if the Pope would not call a General 48 49. His Speech in the States at Orleans 50. At the opening of the Conference of Poissy 60. At the opening of the Assembly of the Delegates 68. He opposeth the Declaring a War against the Prince of Conde 72. He procures Charles IX to be declared of Age 99. And ascribes the driving the English out of France to the Liberty of Conscience granted to the Protestants ibid. I. IGnatius Loyola the Founder of the Order of Jesuits his Death and Story 13. Images set up in the Streets of Paris to be worshipped 35. Ordered not to be worshipped any where 69. The Reasons why the Protestants destroyed them 84. The Images of the twelve Apostles of massy Silver lost 76. The Worship of Images and Reliques commanded by the Council of Trent 96. The Inquisition promoted by Pope Paul IV. 27 36. Desired by the Clergy of France 44. Allowed to proceed summarily against the greatest persons 92. Cites the Queen of Nawar and several of the French Prelates but is opposed by the King of France 92 93 94. K. KErsimont Governour of Britain 2. Kirkwall taken and burnt 23. Knox John stirreth the Scots to reform 37. His Maxims occasion great devastations of Church-building 66. He is accused as the Author of a Tumult 99. L. LAines the second General of the Iesuits very rude in the Conference of Poissy 61. The Protestant League 77. Leith made a French Colony 40. Summon'd by the Scotch Nobility 41. Besieged by the English ibid. Surrendred and dismantled 42. Livonia falls off from the See of Rome 57. Lorrain the Cardinal of opens the first Proposals for a Peace with K. Philip 19. Reprehends Henry II. of France 33. He is suspected the Author of a Slander 34. He reflecteth severely on Coligni 45. Designs to make a Speech for the three Estates 51. He opposeth the Progress of the Reformation 57. Procureth the Conference of Poissy 58. Disputes in it 60. Opposeth a National Council 64. Leaves the Court 65. Adviseth Mary Queen of Scots to leave her Jewels in France 66. Treats with the Protestant Princes of Germany 69. He goes to the Council of Trent 88. Visits the Emperor at Inspruck 90. He is ordered to defend the Peace of Orleans 91. He is gain'd over to the Pope's side 94. He goes to Rome ibid. Returns to Trent 96. M. MAns taken by the Protestants 74. Deserted 76. Mary Queen of England raiseth some Religious Houses 11. She joins with King Philip against France 14. Is advertised by him of the Designs of the French upon Calais 18. Makes an unfortunate attempt by her Fleet on France 21. She dies when there was a Parliament sitting 22. Mary Queen Regent of Scotland summoneth a Parliament 36. Breaks her Faith 37. She leaves Edinburg and goes to Dunbar 38. Reproaches the Lords of the Congregation for holding correspondence with the English 40. She is deposed 41. Her Death and Character 42. Mary Queen of Scotland Married to the Dauphine of France 19. Resolves to return into Scotland 65. Arrives there 66. Endeavoureth to restore Popery 67. Refuseth a Petition against it 99. Mary Queen of Hungary dies 36. Marriage of the Clergy why forbidden and continued so 97. Massacre at Vassy 70. Of Sens 74. Mills Walter the last Martyr in Scotland 24. Melancthon Philip dies 50. Minart Anthony a bloody Persecutor 30 31. He is shot dead in the Streets 34. Popish Misrepresentations of the Protestants in France 16 33 34. Montmorancy Constable of France averse to the Spanish War 14. Taken Prisoner in the Battel of St. Quintin 15. Discharged and laboureth for a Peace 22. Designed for ruin by the Guises 46. Procures the laying aside the use of the Arms of England 39. Entereth Orleans 48. He is set against the Reformation and the King of Navar by the Queen 56. Taken in the Battel of Dreux 80. He refuseth to consent to the Liberty of Conscience 84. He takes Havre de Grace 99. Montmorancy Francis Son of the former gives his Father wise advice 56. N. NAples the Kingdom of annexed to the See of Rome 9. Navar Henry King of suspected to be in the Conspiracy of Bloys 43. And in that of Lions 46. He is sollicited to come to the Assembly of the States by his Brother the Cardinal ib. Comes and is confin'd 47. Discharged and advanced ibid. Becomes terrible to the Pope 49. Favoureth the Reformation 56. Very earnest for a National Council 65. He joins with the Popish party 69. Excuseth the Massacre of Vassy 71. Is shot at Roan and dies 77. His Character ibid. The Queen Cited before the Inquisition after his Death 92. A National Council desired in France 45 64. O. OLiver Chancellor of France imployed against the Members of Parliament who were suspected of Heresie 33. Desirous of a Reformation and an hater of Bloody Persecutions 43. Obtains a Pardon for the Conspirators of Boyse ibid. He dies weeping for what he had done 44. Orleans an Assembly of the three Estates of France opened there 47 50. Surprized by the Protestants 73. Besieged 82. Ostia besieged and taken 9. Retaken ibid. Otho Henry Duke of Bavaria dies 36. Orange William of Nassaw Prince of Ambassador for Charles V. 6. Being Ambassador in France he learns a Secret 27. P. PAliano Fortified 9. Restored to King Philip 11. A Parliament in England 22. In Scotland 36. Another that setles a Confession of Faith 42. Another which confirms and settles it 66. One held at Edinburg in which Mary Queen of the Scots passed several Acts in favour of the Reformation 99. The Parliament of Paris awed by Henry II. 31. Claims the Right of declaring the King out of his Minority 99. Paul IV. Pope his Temper 7. His War against King Philip 8. He ruins his Relations 26. He refuseth to acknowledg Ferdinand Emperor of Germany 22. And Queen Elizabeth Queen of England 23. Erects many Bishopricks 27. His death and the rage of the People against him 36. Peace made between King Philip and the Pope 11. Proposed between France and Spain 19. That of Passaw confirmed 28. That of Cambray fatal 30. That of Orleans disproved by Coligni 84. And by the the Fathers of Trent 91. Perrenot Bishop of Arras 19. A Persecution in France 16. One designed in the Netherlands 27. One in France 30. In Spain 35. In Piedmont 52. In the Netherlands 55. Philbert Duke of Savoy his Marriage 33. Pius IV. Elected 36. Delays the calling of a Council 48. Is at last perswaded to renew that at Trent 62. Despiseth France 86. Afraid of the French Bishops coming to that Council 88. Is promised a victory over the Council 89. Reproached by the King of France 96. Pretends to be-free from the Obligation of all Laws ibid. Philip II. King of Spain engaged in a War against Paul IV. 8. And France 9. Leaves the Netherlands 35. He is much commended by Pope Paul IV. 31. Endeavoureth to raise the power of the Bishops and depress the Pope's in
the Popes Bull was not sufficient nor authentick She answer'd that it was too late to complain of the Bull now since they had approv'd it so long before And when the Dispute began to grow warm the Pope's assistance was desir'd to determine the Matter The Queen had miscarried several times neither did any of her Children live excepting the Princess Mary The Pope therefore undertook the Cause and delegated the hearing of it to the Cardinals Campegio and York And after a long debate when the King had hopes given him from Rome that things should go on his side Campegio by the Pope's Order when he was just upon the Point of the Sentence began to draw back and to throw in delays This Turn they say was occasioned by the death of General Lautrech and the loss of the French Army before Naples Andrew Auria likewise happening to revolt from Francis at the same time which made the Pope conclude that the Emperor Catharines Nephew by her Sister who was now so prosperous in Italy ought not in prudence to be disoblig'd Campegio therefore at last leaves England without bringing the Affair to any point at which the King was extreamly dissatisfied But that he might not seem to do any thing rashly he dispatch'd away several Agents into France Italy and Germany to Collect the sense of the Divines concerning his Marriage The Parisians and most of the rest seemed to declare for the unlawfulness of it though they were suspected to be bribed into their opinion Now there was one Anne Bolen in the Queens Service an incomparable handsome Maiden-Lady This Person the King began to set his Affections upon and discover'd intelligibly enough that he had a mind to marry her As soon as Cardinal Woolsey who was most intimate with the King and as they say moved first for the Divorce understood this design he changed his Resolution and writing to the Pope advised him not to null the Marriage for if he did another Woman infected with Lutheranism would succeed Catharine When the King was acquainted with the Cardinals proceedings by his Embassador at Rome he was very much offended with him and not long after removed him from his Office of Lord Chancellor and deprived him of two of the three Bishopricks which he held At last being reduc'd to a private Life and letting fall some passionate indecent Expressions importing a desire of revenge The King commanded him to dismiss the greatest part of his Servants and to come to Court with a small Retinue The Cardinal not being able to avoid it sets forward but before he reached the King he fell into an acute Distemper contracted by the dissatisfaction of his mind and died upon the way Now the Pope that Campegio might have some pretence for coming away revokes the Cause to himself at Rome And foreseeing the Marriage with Anne Bolen would be of very ill consequence to himself he plies the King with Admonitions and sometimes with Threatnings to give over his design But not being able to prevail there upon the 24th of March this year to oblige the Emperor he gave Judgment on the Queens side When the King was already divorc'd from her had declar'd his Daughter Mary Illegitimate and married the other Lady above a year since As soon as the King understood that Sentence was pronounced against him he began to hate the Pope mortally and immediately passeth an Act in which he declares himself Head of the Church of England next after Christ denies all manner of Obedience to the See of Rome and makes it death for any one to maintain the Pope's Supremacy He likewise refuseth to pay the yearly Tax which the Pope's Collector used to receive and forbids the Conveyance of any Mony to Rome under severe Penalties all which Injunctions were confirmed by the States of the Realm which they call a Parliament Francis the French King is thought to have struck a Considerable stroak in this Divorce that he might make an irreconcilable Breach between Henry and the Emperor As concerning the Tax which I mention'd the Case stands thus Ine King of England in the year 740. out of a sense of Piety made his Kingdom Tributary to the Pope as the History of those times informs us and charged every house with the payment of a peny From that time the Popes sent their Collectors thither yearly to receive this Duty which was commonly call'd Peter-pence This payment having been made by the English without any Interruption from the first Grant this Henry was the first who forbad the Continuance of it any longer I have given an account in the Fourth Book how Luther and Erasmus wrote against each other concerning the Subject of Free Will. This year the Pique between them broke out again For Luther in a Letter to a Friend takes occasion to charge Erasmus very high as if he ridiculed the Christian Religion and expos'd it to question and contempt and cites several places in his Writings to make good his Accusation He also objected that the other had an equivocal two-handed way in expressing himself and made a Tyrannical use of his Elocution And in regard he takes the liberty to play with religious Arguments at that ambiguous rate when he both can and is obliged to be more clear he ought always to be construed in the worst sense This Letter was afterwards answer'd by Erasmus and smartly too who was more sensibly concern'd for nothing than to keep up the Reputation of his own Writings About this time the Franciscans made a strange tragical piece of Work of it at Orleans in France The thing was thus The Provost's Wife of that Town had order'd in her Will to be buried without any Ceremony or noise For when any one dies in France it 's the Custom for Funeral Cryers who are hired for this purpose to go about the principal Streets in the City and call the common people together with their hand-Bells When they have done this they tell the Name and Quality of the Person deceas'd and exhorting the Company to pray to God for his Soul they let them know when and where he is to be buried When the Corps goes to the Grave the Mendicant Friers are usually invited to attend it and a great many Torches are carried before the Hearse In these Solemnities people commonly strive to out-do one another for the more expensive the Funeral is the greater Crowd there is to see and admire it But this Woman I spoke of would have none of all this Her Husband therefore who loved her entirely perform'd this part of her Will and burying her by her Father and Grandfather in the Franciscans Church presented these Gentlemen with no more than six Crowns whereas they expected a much greater Sum. Afterwards when he felled a Wood and sold it they desired him to give them some Timber but were denied They took this very heinously which with their former Disgust made them resolve to
both in his Letters and by his Embassadors to call a Council as soon as was possible in a safe and convenient place Therefore he would have them be of good chear and not despair of an Accommodation in Religion for he was resolv'd not to spare any pains and desired only to know what they would have him do for them with the Pope Afterwards he proceeds to take off the other Objection where he owneth that contrary to his custom and temper he had been forc'd upon rigorous Methods by some bold and flagitious Persons who under a colour of Religion endeavour'd the ruine of the Kingdom Therefore to stop this Plague of disloyalty from spreading he had punish'd them severely as his Ancestors had also had done in the like cases And if any Germans had been taken among them they should have been served all alike For if any of his own Subjects had committed the like Crimes in their Dominions he should not have been against their punishing of them with the utmost severity But to his great satisfaction there was never a German engaged with this wicked Cabal and therefore that Nation should be as welcome to his Kingdom and to his Court too as the French-men themselves But he is sensible what the Authors of these Calumnies drive at they misrepresent him on purpose that they may break off the Correspondence there is between France and Germany which is a very politick design without question for by creating such Misunderstandings they have a better opportunity to compass their own Ends and make themselves Masters of both In the beginning of the Spring the Lantgrave went to King Ferdinand to compleat the Reconciliation according to agreement the last year Peter Paul Vergerius was then lately return'd from the Pope to Ferdinand and took this occasion to acquaint the Lantgrave with his Instructions concerning the Council in the manner above mention'd To which he received no other answer than that his Proposals should be consider'd within such a time After this Vergerius went as he was order'd to the rest of the Princes and negotiated with them Now some few months after the Lantgrave had been with King Ferdinand Duke Vlrick made his appearance before him too And because they were not both of them there at the same time Ferdinand excused them the condition by which they were oblig'd to ask his Pardon in a petitioning way But Vlrick stomach'd that Article extremely which made him a Homager to the House of Austria and was very angry with the Lantgrave and with the Elector of Saxony who interceded for complying with it insomuch that he was in suspence a great while whether he should ratifie the Peace or not At last being perswaded by his Friends he took a Journey to King Ferdinand as the Treaty oblig'd him In April the Emperor set Sail from Barcelona and landed an Army in Africk where after he had taken Tunis and the Fort of Gouletta he restor'd Muley Hazem a Mahumetan who was King of that Country and had been dispossess'd by Barbarossa the Turkish Admiral And having put this Prince under Contribution and fortify'd Gouletta with a strong Garrison he sailed back into Sicily Pope Paul fitted out several Gallies for the Emperor towards this War under the Command of Virginius Vrsinus and likewise gave him the liberty to demand the Tenths of all the Clergy in Spain Barbarossa by the negligence and ill Conduct of the Christians stole away to Bone and from thence to Argiers where he rigg'd out his Fleet and sailed for Constantinople There was at this time in England two very eminent and learned Men John Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas More The Bishop has several Books now Extant against Luther And More when he was Lord Chancellor which is the highest Office in that Kindom was very severe upon those whom he suspected to be Lutheans These Persons did not approve the King's Divorce and much less that Act of Parliament in which he threw off the Pope's Supremacy and delcared himself Head of the Church of England Being committed therefore and persisting in their opinion they were beheaded this year in July The Pope made Rochester a Cardinal when he was in the Tower which it's thought did but provoke the King the more against him About the end of October Francis Sforza Duke of Milan died leaving no Issue behind him This accident was the occasion of a new War as will appear afterwards In the mean time the Emperor left Sicily and arriv'd at Naples and from thence wrote to the Protestants upon the last of November acquainting them that he was resolv'd to stand to the Pacification at Nuremburg but he was inform'd that they had seiz'd upon the Fortunes of the Roman Catholicks and when they were sued upon this account they pleaded the Nuremburg Treaty in their excuse and refus'd to return the right Owners their Estates again Now this he thought was unreasonable and could not choose but take it ill at their hands Much about this time the Elector of Saxony went into Austria to King Ferdinand and after he had dispatch'd his business he came to Prague the Capital of Bohemia in his return home where he was accosted by Peter Paul Vergerius whom the Pope sent Nuncio into Germany to settle the Affairs about the Council as hath been mention'd already Vergerius relates his Commission to the Duke and tells him That now the time was come for the celebrating a Council which had so often been wished for in regard his present Holiness the Emperor and King Ferdinand made it their principal Concern to consider how the Glory of our Saviour and the Salvation of Men might be most effectually promoted and the same pious disposition was apparent in other Princes The Pope likewise had sent his Embassadors into all parts not for a colour but in good earnest For it was not his way to make large Promises as some had done and then act quite contrary to what was pretended but he was solicitous about nothing so much as that they might come to the Point as soon as was possible that a religious Council might be held and free for all People to come to As to the place the Pope for very good reasons thinks none proper but Mantua concerning the Form and Method of proceeding that may be better adjudg'd when they are conven'd than now The Protestant Princes have always hitherto desir'd a lawful Council and had lately publish'd some Papers about it which he was glad to see And now the Pope comes up to their Proposals and offers them what they would have and the Emperor and King Ferdinand will omit nothing which may expedite the Affair Now if his Electoral Highness should be the only Person who refuses to comply most people would conclude that no sort of Method could please him Clement the Seventh charg'd his Offer with some Conditions which his present Holiness hath not done and therefore there is
Venice is will be of the Duke's Opinion and not let their Town be filled with so great a multitude without a Garrison to secure it so that upon this account there will be as few people to open the Council as there was at Mantua And since whatever he hath done is no better than Mockery it 's not fit he should have such an unreasonable Liberty allowed him any longer 'T is true Councils rightly constituted and managed are the most proper and useful Expedients which can be tried but when they are pack'd for private Interest and Advantage and to establish the Usurpations of a Party they are inconceivable mischievous to the State of Christendom And now when the Name of a Council and the Church made so great a noise in the World Luther undertook to write a Book in High Dutch upon both Arguments where in the first place he treats of the Council of the Apostles at Jerusalem which is mentioned in the Fifteenth of the Acts. Then he sheweth how the Fathers contradicted one another more particularly St. Augustin and St. Cyprian about Baptism where he takes occasion to mention those Ecclesiastical Constitutions which are commonly called the Apostles Canons and proves them spurious by unquestionable Arguments and that those ought to be hanged who give them that name From thence he proceeds to the first four General Councils which are of the most considerable Authority and recites them in Order the Nicene the Constantinopolitan the Ephesine and that at Chalcedon and gives an account of the Occasion of their Meeting and what was Decreed there afterwards he comes up to the main Question and sheweth how far the Power of a Council reacheth And here he maintaineth that a Council ought not to make any Article of Faith nor enjoin any new Duty nor tie the Consciences of Men to Ceremonies which were not practised from the beginning neither is it lawful for such an Assembly to intermeddle in Civil Government nor to make any Canons to found their private Grandeur and Dominion upon On the contrary their Office is to see that all Innovations in Doctrine repugnant to the Holy Scriptures that superstitious or unprofitable Ceremonies may be condemned and removed and always to make the Scripture their Rule to determine Controversies by Then he goes on to define the Church and lays down the Notes to know her by and running a Parellel between Christ and his Apostles and the Pope and showing what a different Doctrine his Holiness had settled in the Church and at what a wicked Rate he had plundered Christendom he concludes he ought to be Excommunicated and obliged to Restitution Besides many other Instances by which he demonstrates in that Book what gross Ignorance there was in the times of Popery how much Religion was corrupted and debauched he tell us Things were come to that pass that even the bare Habit of a Monk was thought to contribute considerably towards the obtaining eternal Life insomuch that not only the Vulgar but many persons of Quality would be buried in it After-Ages possibly will not believe this Relation but yet it is very true and is chiefly practised in Italy and in my time Francis the Second Marquess of Mantua made express Provision in his Will to be buried in the Habit of a Franciscan or Seraphick as they call it The same thing was done by Albertus Pius Prince of Carpi who died at Paris and by Christopher Longolius a Low Country Man who lieth at Padua He was a very Learned Person and a great Admirer of Tully There is an Oration of his Extant against the Lutherans as there is also one of Albert's against Erasmus of Rotterdam After the Death of George Duke of Saxony Henry of Brunswick immediately set forward through France into Spain to wait upon the Emperor Much about this time Henry King of England called a Parliament where besides other secular Matters he Enacts these following Articles concerning Religion That the true and natural Body and Blood of Christ were under the Appearance of Bread and Wine and that the Substance of Bread and Wine does not remain after Consecration That the receiving all the Lord's Supper is not necessary to Salvation Christ being entirely contained under each kind That it is not lawful for Priests to Marry Vows of Chastity ought to be kept and private Masses continued Auricular and private Confession of Sins is both profitable and necessary Those who teach and do any thing contrary to this Act are to suffer as Hereticks And at the same time when this Law was made the King courted Ann Sister to William Duke of Cleve a beautiful Maiden-Lady who when she was contracted to him sailed over into England some few Months after Some thought the Bishops influenced the King to sign this Act touching these Points that they might have an Opportunity to ruine the Authority and Interest of Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and Thomas Cromwell who were both of them Well-wishers to the Reformation This Year in August the Turkish Admiral Barbarossa took Castle-novo a Town in Dalmatia in the Gulph of Cataro by Storm where all the Garrison was put to the Sword and some of the Burghers carried away into Slavery The Emperor and his Confederates the Venetians took this place a Year before in October but the Emperor garrisoned it himself with Four thousand Spaniards and made Francis Sarmiento the Governor This was a surprize to the Venetians who said a Town situated upon that Coast did rather belong to themselves Thus being disgusted with the Emperor and likewise foreseeing that an Alliance with him would prove dangerous to their State they apply themselves not long after to the Turk and upon their request obtain a Truce of him At this time there happened an Insurrection at Ghent the most considerable City for Strength and Interest in all those Parts and which has often contested very warmly for Liberty with the Earls of Flanders under whose Jurisdiction it is When the Emperor heard of this Commotion he changed his design of going into Germany by the way of Italy and resolved to Travel through France being earnestly invited thither by the French King who made him very obliging proffers of Security and Accommodation for his Journey In the mean time the Palsgrave and the Elector of Brandenburg being Princes of the Mediation wrote to the Emperor concerning the Pacification at Francfort and desired him to give leave there might be a Conference of Learned Men at Nuremberg But his Imperial Majesty told them That the Death of his Empress and some other Occurrences intervening had hindred him from being at leisure to attend that Affair When the Princes of the Mediation had sent a Copy of this Letter to the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave without signifying whether the Emperor had confirmed the Truce for Fifteen Months the Protestants appointed a Convention on the Nineteenth of November at Arnstet a Town in Thuringia
Milan Philip made King of Spain The Emperor and King of England make a League against the French King. The Pope writes to the Clergy of the Cathedral of Cologne and animates them The French King takes Landrecy a small Town from the Emperor A Diet is held at Spire where the French King is so grievously accused that his Herald was dismissed with very rough Language There the Protestants lay most enormous Crimes to the Charge of Henry Duke of Brunswick There also the Duke of Savoy by his Ambassadors again accuses the French King. The Speech which the French Ambassadors were to have made in the Assembly of all the States at Spire is printed and published In the same Diet also an accord was made betwixt the Emperor King Ferdinand and the Duke of Saxony The States of the Empire vote the Emperor Money against the French King. Bulloign is besieged by the English The Town of Landrecy is taken A panick fear at Paris The Emperor makes Peace with the King of France at Soissons and the Conditions of the Peace are related WHEN the War was not hot on all Hands August the Twenty-sixth the Pope sent Legates Mediators Cardinal Michael Bishop of Viseo a Portugese to the Emperor and Cardinal James Sadoleto to the French King to intercede with them that they would sacrifice their private Injuries to the publick Good and set their Minds in Peace He sent Legates also to the Council at Trent The Emperor made Answer to the Legate of Viseo and wrote to the Pope much to the same purpose as he did in the Letter we mentioned before and therefore again moved him to declare himself the Enemy of France For that his Holiness had often protested That he would severely punish him that should violate a Truce or make a League with the Turk That that was the only solid way of settling the Peace of Christendom With this Letter he dismissed the Legate on the Eighteenth of October Because the Duke of Longueville and Martin Van Rossem had raised an Army in the Territories of the Duke of Cleve as has been mentioned before the Imperialists under the command of the Prince of Orange invade the Country of Juliers put all to Fire and Sword and upon Composition take Duren the chief Town in these Parts For the Duke of Cleve had succeeded to the Principalities of Juliers and Mons in Right of his Mother At the same time also the Imperial Army having done no Action in Hungary only in vain attempted the Siege of Pest returned Home but much weakened by the Plague that had swept away many Thousands of them Maurice Duke of Saxony served as a Voluntier in this War being a Youth of about Sixteen Years of Age who having one Day gone abroad out of the Camp with one Man only to wait upon him met accidentally and engaged some Turks where he had his Horse shot under him The Gentleman who as I told you waited on him covered him with his Body and defended him till some Horse came in to their Relief aad saved the Prince So that to save his Life he lost his own for being brought into the Camp full of Wounds he died not long after This was the issue of the Hungarian War whither the Pope had sent Three thousand Foot under the Command of Alexander Vitellio About this time a hot War broke out betwixt England and Scotland upon occasion that the Year before the King of Scots having promised to meet his Uncle the King of England at York to treat about their Borders had been disswaded by his Mother and many of the Nobility and so did not come But the Scots about the beginning of December this Year had a great defeat and many of their Nobility were taken in Battle and that of their own accord too because they dispised their General as being a Man of inferior Birth and could not endure to be Commanded by him This the King laid so much to Heart that returning Home he died of Grief the Twelfth of December after his Queen being brought to Bed of his Daughter Mary but Eight Days before which was a thing that also encreased his Melancholy seeing he had no Male-Issue living for the Year before he had lost Two Sons in two several places within the space of Twenty-four Hours His Queen was Mary the Daughter of Claude Duke of Guise of the Family of Lorrain The Scots being in this distress the French King sent them a supply of Men and Artillery After the Death of the King the Administration of the Government was put into the Hands of James Hamilton Earl of Arran the King's Cousin twice removed Next to him in power was the Cardinal of St. Andrews one much addicted to the Interest of France We have spoken before the Duke Henry of Saxony who entered into the Protestant League both in his own and Son Maurice's Name But after his Death Duke Maurice being called on upon that account made Answer That his Father could not bind for him nor was he tied by his Obligation Henry Duke of Brunswick being forced to fly his Country as was said before brings his Action against the Duke of Saxony the Lantgrace and Confederates before the Imperial Chamber who being afterwards cited to appear in the Month of December declined that Writ and Judicature in all Causes whatsoever and by their Agents under publick Intimation thereof protesting at the same time that they did not refuse a lawful and ordinary Jurisdiction but excepted against the Judges who were of a different Religion who adhered to the Decree of Ausburg made Twelve Years before and approved it upon Oath who for that reason were at great variance with them and bore malice against them who looked upon them as Hereticks thinking that Justice was not to be administred unto them and who had many times given manifest indications of this their prejudice and aversion It had been decreed in the Diet of Ratisbone that in the Month of January this Year the Imperial Chamber should be reformed To this Decree the Protestants assented provided Men of their perswasion might be admitted to that Bench which the Emperor granted to them as we said before and King Ferdinand afterward renewed in the Diet of Spire appointing that Reformation to be made in the Month of June whereby he had obtained Supplies from them for the Turkish War. For unless that were done they publickly then protested That they would not only contribute no more to the Charges of the Chamber but also not obey the Orders of that Court. Since therefore nothing had as yet been done in that matter they sent Agents as I told you with Instructions to decline and protest against the Judicature But the Judges of the Imperial Chamber in a publick Writing afterward rejected their declinatory Protestation It was decreed in the late Diet of Nurimberg That because of the Turkish War the States should assemble there again on the
that he would confirm his Son in the Possession of them and give him the solemn Investiture of a Prince The Emperor who held Milan and would not part with any part of his Right refused that The Pope had also a Design as it was said to have purchased from the Emperor with Money the Dukedom of Milan for his Grandson Octavio But the Emperor that he might be no longer hindered broke up the Interview and having compounded with Cosmo of Medicis Duke of Florence for the Castles of Florence and Leghorn which till then he had in his Hands and having delivered them up to the Duke for the Summ of above Two hundred thousand Crowns which he received for them he went on in his Progress Before he left Spain he had created his Son Philip King and gave him in Marriage the Infanta Mary Daughter of John King of Portugal This Year also Sigismund the Son of Sigismund King of Poland married the Lady Elizabeth Daughter of Ferdinand King of the Romans Henry Duke of Brunswick having made a Journey into Italy to meet the Emperor grievously accused the Protestants at Cremona And now the Emperor being upon his March with an Army from Italy the Protestants who had lately received his Letters dated from Genoa on the Twenty fourth of June met at Smalcald and there consulted about sending Ambassadors to him concerning those things that related to the securing the Dutchy of Brunswick and their own League and about Application to be made to Duke Maurice to the King of Sweedland to Otho Henry Prince Palatine to Wolfgang Duke of Deux-Ponts and to the Bishop of Munster who all desired to be admitted into the League This Assembly ended the One and twentieth Day of July Much about this time the Emperor and King of England made a League against the French King who assisted the Scots as we said before But the Pope was much offended at this Alliance and therefore looked upon the Friendship of France as necessary for his Interests When about the end of July the Emperor came to Spire the Protestants sent thither their Ambassadors Francis Burcart George Bemelberg Christopher Veninger and James Sturmey who being admitted to Audience on the Second of August spoke much to the same Purpose as we told you before they had done to King Ferdinand The Effect of their Speech was That if they had sufficient Security given them of Peace if the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber were reformed as had been lately decreed at Ratisbone and if the Inequality of Contributions were rectified they would not be wanting to their Duty in bearing their Parts in the publick Necessities That as to the Duke of Brunswick they desired the Cause might be brought to a fair Trial and then they offered to prove that he who had first done open Injury to those of Goslar and Brunswick Two free States was justly expulsed and driven out of his Country To these things the Emperor Two Days after made Naves give his Answer in Presence of Granvell That they could require no more of him for that their Peace had been sufficiently secured by former Decrees That the Judges of the Imperial Chamber could not be removed without a Hearing That in the Month of October ensuing Enquiry would be made into their Proceedings and that they should not go unpunished if they were found Guilty of any Fault That a Moderation in the Contributions could not be made but with the common Advice and Consent of all the States That they should reflect upon the present State of the Publick and that seeing it was in great Danger without speedy Help they should follow the Example of the rest of the States and contribute their Aid against the Turk That he the Emperor was now to make all the Head he could against the French King and Duke of Cleve that he might defend his Subjects from Injury That Henry Duke of Brunswick did earnestly urge a Restitution and therefore they should declare their Mind as to that Point They desired to have that Answer given them in Writing that they might consider it more carefully to which the Emperor consented and next Day leaving Spire went to Mentz The Ambassadors who had received the Answer in Writing followed him thither and made a Reply to Naves and Granvell showing them that they had not sufficient Assurances given them of Peace and urging the Emperors Declaration at Ratisbone mentioned in the former Book they altogether persisted in demanding the same things and that since their Desire was That the Cause of Brunswick might be brought to a Hearing they had no farther Instructions they said in that Particular They on the other hand alledged that the Emperor could do no more and repeating what had been said before told them That if the Duke of Brunswick were not restored he would certainly take some Course for recovering his own And this being all that could be had the Ambassadors departed to make their Report to their Masters The Archbishop of Cologne came to the Emperor at Spire and interceded for the Duke of Cleve But it was to no purpose for that unless he first delivered up the Possession of Guelderland the Emperor would not hear of Peace And when the Ambassador of Saxony by Orders from his Prince interceded for the same Duke with Granvell at Mentz and to perswade him alledged that a private Wrong should be sacrificed to the Good of the Publick especially when now the Turk was coming upon them His Answer was That the Emperor would not desist from his Enterprise whatever the Turk might do You heard before That the People of Heildesheim having abandoned the Popish Religion entered into the Protestant League therefore Valentine the Bishop of that City grievously accused them to the Imperial Chamber and King Ferdinand before and now to the Emperor That they had changed the old Religion and Ceremonies of the Church That they had appointed new Preachers to instruct the People abolished the Mass punished the Followers of the ancient Religion not only thrown down Altars and Fonts but demolished also Churches partly carried away the Goods Furniture and Ornaments of the Clergy and partly detained them in their Custody having seized the Keys of the Places where they were kept That they had lately made publick Plays wherein they had exposed the Virgin Mary and the rest of the Saints to the Scorn and Derision of the Mobile That they purposed to withdraw themselves from under his Jurisdiction had entered into the League and put themselves under the Protection of the Protestants That they compelled by Force Monks and other Religious to conform to their Religion and not only openly reviled but also banished out of their Territories those who would not comply The Emperor hearkening to this Accusation on the Sixth of August wrote to them from Wormes and with severe Threatnings commanded them to restore Religion and all things else to their
could hardly believe those who told them that they had not only seen the Emperor but also spoken with him The Prince was also so fatally credulous as to be perswaded of the same thing Now this was thought to be an Invention of the French that those of Cleve might not lose Heart and being terrified at the Emperor's Power make Peace with him The Emperor having received this Answer Fortified his Camp provided all things necessary and on the Twenty fourth of August began to Batter the Town by break of Day and afterward gave the Assault especially by the Spaniards who went on with great Chearfulness and Resolution and though they were often beat off and lost many Men yet they gave not over till they forced the Place and treated the Towns-people as the Inhabitants are commonly used when a Town is taken by Storm We must know that in this Town was kept the Head of St. Ann the Mother of our Lady and was usually exposed to the view of vast numbers of People who flocked thither yearly on the Six and twentieth day of July the Anniversary of that Saint to pay their Devotions to it But the Spaniards being now Conquerours took that Head inclosed in a golden Reliquary and with great Pomp carried it in Procession to the Grey Friars Church least it should have perished in the Ruines and Flames of the Church The Town being plundered and burnt the Emperor advanced and had surrendered to him first Liege and then Reremund a strong Town of Guelderland standing where the Rivers of Roure and Maese do meet For the unexpected Calamity of Duren had put all Men into extraordinary Fear and Consternation From Ruremund he went to Venlo Thither at last came the Duke of Cleve to him in the Camp accompanied with Henry Duke of Brunswick and the Ambassadors of Herman Archbishop of Cologne where he having made his Humble Submission and the Duke of Brunswick and the Ambassadors earnestly interceding for him the Emperor at length arose and ordered the Prince of Orange and Granvell to prescribe Conditions unto him upon which he was received into Favour again the Seventh of September The Conditions were That he should not depart from the Religion of the Catholick Church That if he had made any Alterations he should restore things again as they were before That he should promise Allegiance and Obedience to the Emperor King Ferdinand and the Empire That he should renounce his League with France and Denmark That he should make no League wherein the Emperor King Ferdinand and their Heirs were not excepted That he should deliver up the whole Possession of Guelderland and release the People from their Oath And that he should Assist the Emperor in Recovering Guelderland if perhaps any places should refuse to Surrender The Emperor on the other Hand restored to him the Province of Juliers lately Conquered by War except Two Towns Hensberg and Zittard which he kept in his Hands for a time till he should make trial of his Fidelity and Obsequiousness Whilst the Emperor was upon his March against the Duke of Cleve the French King advanced through Champange towards the Country of Luxenburg and sent for his Sister's Daughter the Lady Joanna who had been Two Years before betrothed and publickly Married as we said to the Duke that he might carry her to her Husband She went most unwillingly as hath been mentioned also before but however she obeyed the King her Uncle The King had appointed Cardinal du Bellay Bishop of Paris as the fittest Person to perswade her to wait upon her and keep her Company during the whole Journey Now when she was come as far as Soissons on her way to the King News was brought That the Duke of Cleve was subdued which much rejoiced her as well perceiving that that might put an end to all her Sufferings and Constraint and indeed she was not mistaken for the King was exceedingly troubled at the News and so she returned Home But nevertheless he proceeded and again took the City of Luxenburg about the latter end of September which after deliberation he fortified At the same time Henry King of England who had lately made a League with the Emperor sent over some Forces into the Netherlands who joining the Imperialists Besieged Landrecy In the mean time Charles Boisset a Lawyer was in the beginning of October sent from the Emperor to Metz who having consulted with the Senate the Monks and Churchmen upon his first coming sent for one of the Preachers whom he severely chid and commanded upon pain of Death to depart the City within three Days and not to converse with any Citizen for the future Afterwards the Emperor's Edict was on the Fifteenth of October publickly read wherein the Emperor commanded the Senate not to admit of any new Doctrines and to punish those that were guilty that way Wherefore the Senate published their Orders to the Citizens that they should persist in the ancient Religion produce all prohibited and suspected Books within a Weeks time obey the Canons of the Church abstain from flesh on days prohibited shew Reverence to Church-Men and that those who upon account of difference in Religion had put themselves into the protection of the Protestants and promised Fidelity unto them should within a certain time renounce the same Denouncing several Penalties against Offenders herein as Fines Banishment and other Punishments according to their several Deserts When Barbarossa had in vain Besieged the Castle of Nizza whither the Emperor's Forces were coming out of Lombardy under the Command of the Marquess of Piscara he drew off and went to his Winter Quarters in Thoulon somewhat sooner than the Season of the Year required for the King had assigned him that Town the Citizens and Inhabitants being commanded to leave it Scotland was this Year much disturbed with intestine Broils and Divisions the Nobles disagreeing among themselves For those of the Nobility who were Prisoners in England as we said being generously dismissed by the King cordially espoused his Interests But the Cardinal of Scotland who enjoyed great Revenues from Church-Livings in France and the Queen the Duke of Guise's Daughter maintained the French King 's Part. After the Death of the King of Scots it was the chief Design of Henry VIII that the young Queen of Scots might be affianced to Prince Edward his Son. In that matter the Nobles we mentioned did him good Service And having perswaded the Earl of Arran the Regent they seized the Cardinal of St. Andrews and kept the Queen Besieged in a Castle till they had confirmed the Marriage and drawn up Writings thereupon But the French King interfering in the Matter the Nobility also pitying the Queen's Condition and the Regent falling off to the other side they broke their Articles which gave occasion of a new War betwixt the English and them as shall be said hereafter The King of Denmark was also in War with
Cardinals therewith and in name of the whole Empire to demand the continuation of the Council at Trent He ordered Mendoza also to do the same but the Pope took time to consider of it and having thought fit to consult you about the matter obtained from you a dubious crafty and captious Answer Besides he answers the Emperour oddly and shews sufficiently by his tergiversation that he is little concerned for the Publick for the cause of the removal ought to have been proved by credible Witnesses The Emperour King Ferdinand and the Princes by Letters and most ample Embassies declared what the mind of the States was concerning the Council but the Pope believed and preferred the Report of some mean and base People before the Testimony of all these How many tedious and irksome Journeys hath the Emperour made upon the account of the Council What Charges and Expences hath he been at And must all these be lost For most weighty and necessary causes was the Council both called and begun at Trent the Emperour and Germans demanding it and all other Christian Princes consenting thereunto so that unless the publick Authority of all States intervene it cannot be translated to another place for indeed there was no cause for the Translation only something invented for an excuse as some slight Feaver and badness of Air forsooth and for that purpose some Physicians were suborned but chiefly Serving-Maids and Cooks Now what a trifling cause that was the thing it self and the event declared You say that you went away without the Pope's knowledge and advice but the Letter he wrote to you and the Answer he gave the Emperour imply the quite contrary Certainly you ought not to have departed nor changed the place but with consent of the Emperour to whom it belongs to protect all Councils but you posted away in so much haste that ye rejected the Opinion of those who said that the Emperour and Pope ought first to be consulted Now if you must needs have been removing ye ought to have observed at least the Decrees of the Holy Councils and remained within the bounds of Germany that the Germans for whose cause chiefly the Council was called might safely come to it but now ye have chosen Bolonia a Town seated in the heart of Italy and under the Jurisdiction of the Church of Rome whither it is certain the Germans will not come and therefore have you chosen it that to the great prejudice and disgrace of Christendom the Council may be either dissolved or managed at your pleasure The Emperour therefore requireth and that most earnestly that you return to that place which pleased all before especially since all things are now safe and quiet and no more cause of any fear remains But if this you refuse I do here in the name and by command of the Emperour protest against this Translation of the Council as frivolous and unlawful and that all that has been done or shall be done therein is of no force nor effect I also publickly declare That that Answer of yours is silly and full of Lyes and that the prejudice and inconveniences which hereafter shall ensue to the Publick are not to be imputed to the Emperour but to you affirming withal that you have no Power nor Authority to remove the Council And because you neglect the publick Welfare the Emperour as Protector of the Church will take the care of that upon himself in so far as it is lawful for him by Law and the Canons of Holy Church When he had read over that Protestation he delivered a written Copy of it and desired it to be entered upon Record With that the Cardinal de Monte having highly commended the pious intentions of the Fathers called God to witness that they had wrong done them saying They were ready to suffer death rather than that such a practice should be brought into the Church that the Civil Magistrate might call or controul a Council when and how he pleased That the Emperour was indeed a Son of the Church but not the Lord and Master That he and his Colleagues were the Legates of the Apostolick See and did not refuse even then to render first to God and then to the Pope an account of their Commission That after all within a few days they should have an Answer to their Protestation Much about the same time Mendoza having received Instructions from the Emperour made a Protestantion to the same effect at Rome before the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals and in presence of all the Forreign Embassadours whom according to his Instructions he had invited to be Witnesses of it THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XX. THE CONTENTS In the beginning it is hotly disputed whether Prussia belong to the King of Poland or rather to the Empire The Pope makes a large Answer to the Harangue that Mendoza made before The Emperour being informed of that and seeing but very little hopes of a Council causes the Book which is called the Interim to be made The Protector of England in a very long Letter to the Scots counsels them to Peace and demands their Queen Vogelsberg is beheaded The Emperour invests Duke Maurice in the Electorship which he had bestowed upon him in the Camp before Wittemberg Bucer refuses to subscribe to the Interim The Pope also publishes a Censure of it which many of the Electors and Princes also did and many refuse it though it was published by the Emperour The Duke of Saxony though a Prisoner with great magnanimity rejects it The Landgrave by Letters which were published from the Emperours Court seems to approve it that he may obtain his freedom Whil'st the Mass is abolished in England by Act of Parliament the free Towns of Germany are solicited to accept of the Interim and especially Strasburg which is pressed by Threats to do it WE have shewn in the former Books that Marquess Albert of Brandenburg did Homage to the King of Poland and altered the Government of Prussia for which he was Outlaw'd by the Imperial Chamber As also that the King of Poland had several times solicited the Emperour and rest of the States in the Publick Diets to reverse that Outlawry because he was his Vassal and under his Protection But since to this day nothing could be obtained and that by this Victory of the Emperours some greater danger seemed to be threatned the King of Poland sends an Embassy to this Diet whereof the chief was Stanislaus Alaski He in the month of January delivered to the Emperour and Colledge of the Princes a Speech in Writing whereof the substance was That the Cause of Prussia had been some times already debated but because it had been always put off to other Diets he was commanded to open it again that the King was in good hopes because of the civil Answers he had often received from them and of the equity of his Cause they would Consider his Affair yet not as
and Henry Hasen some were also there from King Ferdinand And when then the Bishops urged the Emperor's Abolition but Marquess Albert his Confirmation the Electors advised the Emperor's Ambassadors to write to their Master to know from his Majesty which of the two he would stand by the Emperor on the seventeenth of June made answer to this purpose When the Year before he had heard of the Transâ—â—â—tion made betwixt Marquess Albert and the Bishops he had at the desire of some rescinded it and charged the Bishops not to observe it as being a bad President that any Man should be forced to truckle under another for doing their Duty to him and the Empire But that then again when Marquess Albert would not Capitulate with him unless these Compacts were Confirmed to avoid greater Inconveniences which then threatned all Germany he had complied with the Times and that because he had a good Army on Foot that Count Mansfield raised Forces for him also in Saxony and that he being engaged in the French War could not restrain him there being none in Germany that could resist him so much as one day he had made Peace with him in Confidence that he might afterward please him especially if the Princes who were his Kinsmen would interpose their Mediation and that truly if it had pleased God to have given him Success before Metz he was sure of a way how to have satisfied him For that he had done him singular good Service in that War which made him desirous to gratifie him That when afterwards the Siege did not succeed he had essayed to make an Agreement by their means but that he was much troubled that he should have rejected the Conditions proposed and again fallen to War wherefore he had appointed this other Meeting at Franckfurt That now he had Information that he was making War not only against the Bishops but others also which both vexed him and was also contrary to his Articles for that when he was received into Favour he had promised to be faithful and true in all things both to him and the Empire for the time to come That if he would now be but Conformable and Obedient he would forget all that was past but that since he himself was suspected by some of being Partial they should endeavour all they could to bring matters to a Pacification and expect no farther Declaration from him That by so doing they would very much gratifie him who was resolved for the future to act nothing without their Counsel and Consent But after all there was nothing concluded at Franckfurt Much about the same time the Dukes of Bavaria and Wirtemberg met by the Emperor's Order at Laugingen to make Peace betwixt the Counts of Oetingen Father and Son. For ever since the time of the Smalcaldick War to the Siege of Metz Lowis Father and Son had wandered up and down without any certain Habitation because they had been in Arms against the Emperor However his Sons Frederick and Woffgang who differed from him in Religion possessed all his Lands and Estate When the matter was brought to a Treaty the Father accused them of the highest Ingratitude and though the Princes took extraordinary Pains to set things to rights yet nothing could be effected The End of the Twenty fourth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XXV The CONTENTS Whilst the War goes on in Piedmont and Tuscany Maurice Duke of Saxony and Albert Marquess of Brandenburg declared a War against each other and a Battel is fought betwixt them in which Maurice is shot in the Belly by an Hand-Gun and dies two days after but Albert was beaten Augustus the Brother of Albert succeeds him from whom John Frederick demands Restitution of his Patrimony Nine Protestants burnt at Lâ—yons Edward the Sixth King of England's Sickness Death and Character Jane Duchess of Suffolk proclaimed but Mary prevails She restores the Roman Catholick Bishops and holds a Parliament Hesdin destroyed Cambray assaulted Albert beaten in a second Battel by Henry of Brunswick He retires to Hoff and is Outlaw'd Jane Gray and her Father the Duke of Suffolk and many others executed on the Account of Wiat's Rebellion John Frederick and his Lady end their Days in great Piety and Peace Albert Outlaw'd again A second Parliament and the Marriage of Queen Mary and King Philip. Pool reconciles England to the See of Rome A Diet at Ausburg The Transactions of England and the Condemnations of some of the Protestant Bishops and others The Opening of the Diet at Ausburg and the Speech made by Ferdinand on that Occasion The Thoughts of men insinuated IN order to the appeasing these Commotions and Wars in Germany the Emperor summoned a Diet in May to meet the Thirteenth of August and having towards the latter end of April besieged Terovanne a strong City of Artois but then in the hands of the French The Twenty first of June he took it and exposed it absolutely to the Will of his Army who plundered burnt and dismantled it Francis the Son of the Constable of France who was Governor of the City was also taken Prisoner The English had sent some Months before a splendid Embassy and sollicited a Peace which was also laboured by the Pope's Nuncio but with no Success In May John Duke of Northumberland who after the Execution of the Protector the Uncle of Edward the Sixth was become the first Minister of State in England marries Guilford Dudley his Fourth Son to Jane the Eldest Daughter of the Duke of Suffolk and Grand-child of Mary younger Sister of Henry the Eighth King Edward being then in great danger of Death by reason of a Sickness There was at the same time a War in Piedmont and Tuscany the Emperor being intent upon the recovery of Siena and to that purpose having ordered Peter Duke of Toledo then Vice-Roy of Naples to prosecute this Design with the Forces of that Kingdom but he dying and the Turkish Fleet which had on Board the Prince of Salerno who was sent from France on that occasion to facilitate the Turkish Designs upon the Kingdom of Naples being then expected in Italy the Army return'd to defend that Kingdom against this approaching and nearer danger Albert carrying on the War in Franconia Maurice and his Allies sent an Army thither Whereupon Albert putting Garrisons into Schweinfurt and some other places when he had levied great Sums of Money and carried away many of the Inhabitants of Norimberg and Bamberg as Hostages turn'd suddenly towards Saxony At Arnstad the Ambassadors of John Frederick Duke of Saxony met him and desired that he would not damnifie the Territories of their Master which he readily promised and faithfully performed Entring therefore into the Territory of Erford he plundered many of its Villages This sudden Invasion gave Maurice a great disturbance his Forces being then sent away into Franconia whereupon he summoned first the Nobility and then the Commons to
such thing and that without any Declaration of War. Now this to me appears the more strange because between me and you there is not the least cause of offeuce For as to the report that I should send Succors to the Marquess of Brandenburg against you that is entirely false But then as to the favour I have of late shewn to him I have only done it upon the account of the ancient Union which I mention'd and in compliance with the hospitable Custom of the Crown of France which has ever given entertainment and protection to all afflicted Princes and in a more especial manner to those of Germany in their Distresses In truth I should have been much better pleased to have seen him flourishing at home and enjoying his own than thus to see him ruined driven out and deserted I say I should rather have desired he should not have fallen into this calamity or that at least now an end might be put to it by a just and equal Treaty But now that I see him reduced into this distress by the fault of my Adversary who first pronounced the Sentence void and yet afterwards confirmed it why am I suspected if I compassionate his Fortunes But as to the giving him any assistance against the Empire that never entred into my Thoughts and you may rest assured that I will not now do it if you do not your selves first break the League of Friendship And now I have given you assurance that you shall meet with nothing but Peace and Kindness from me I desire that you would not be so far circumvented by the Artifices of those who have as little kindness for you as they have for me as to take up Arms or to contribute Men or Moneys against me for their whole Design is to make their own private a publick Concern It rather befits you to continue the Amity and to accept of the Conditions I proffer you I desire also that you would give me a clear assurance by him who delivers you this Letter what you intend and that according to the ancient Custom and the Treaty of Passaw my Ambassadors who are to attend in the next Diet may have sufficient Pasports The Answer he received was That as to the Troops sent by the Borders of Lorrain there was no Affront intended to his Majesty but it was done to the intent that if the Marquess of Brandenburg should make any irruption into the Empire his Attempts might be hindred That as to what concerned his Ambassadors and the publick Peace they had no Commands from their Principals but they would give an Account of his Demands to them and they did not doubt but they would do what was just and fit About the end of October the Emperor delivered up to his Son by his Ambassadors according to the accustomed Ceremonies the Dukedom of Milan The King of France soon after the raising the Siege of Renty in the manner I have express'd dismiss'd the Swiss and put the rest of his Forces into Quarters And the Emperor having found a convenient place not far from the Castle of Hesdin which he took and demolished the last year began the foundation of a new Town and Fort and for the building of it with the greater security kept his Army together which in the Month of November wasted with Fire and Sword the Country of Bolonois and the Territory of Amiens Thus the whole force of the War on both sides fell on the miserable and unarmed Multitude Afterwards he dismissed the greatest part of the Army and kept only with him one or two Regiments About the same time the King of France sent some Forces into Italy and amongst them some Germans for the Relief of Siena which was then sharply besieged by the Forces of the Emperor and of the Duke of Florence The Twelfth Day of November a new Parliament began in London thereupon Cardinal Pool who was then in Brabant had some Persons of great note dispatched to him to bring him over into England the Principal of which was the Lord Paget the 24th he came to London and was honourably receiv'd wheresoever he came and was soon after restored to his former Place Honour Family and Estate by the consent of the States which had been taken from him by Attainder in the Reign of Henry the Eighth The 27th day of November he came into the Parliament and in the Presence of King Philip and the Queen he discovered the Cause of his Legation and exhorted the States to return to the Communion of the Church and to restore to the most Holy Father the Pope of Rome his due Authority who was willing to receive them with the utmost Clemency and Affection He admonished them also that they should offer up their Thanks to God who had given them such a King and Queen Then returning them his Thanks for their restoring him to his Inheritance and Family which he esteemed a very great Benefit he said he was so much the more obliged to restore them also to their heavenly Court and Countrey which he wished above all things Having said this he withdrew and the Bishop of Winchester Gardiner who was Lord Chancellor having repeated his Speech and with many words exhorted them to Union and Concord He added that great Thanks were due to Almighty God for his immense Goodness and Mercy in that he had raised up a Prophet of their own Seed to wit this great Cardinal who would wholly employ himself in the promoting of their Salvation The next day when the Upper House had approved the Cardinal's Speech there was a Bill drawn in form of a Petition wherein the States supplicate the King and Queen to intertcede with the Cardinal on their behalf In it they say that they earnestly repent of the Schism that they had denied the Obedience which was due to the Apostolick See and that they had given their Assent to Acts of Parliament against it That for time to come they would be in the power of their Majesties and do all that ever they could that all such Acts might in this Parliament be repealed and therefore they did most earnestly beseech their Majesties that they would interpose and obtain an Absolution of their Sin and a Remission of the Censures which by the Canons of the Church they had incurred That they might be received into the bosom of the Church as penitent Children that in the obedience of the See of Rome and of the Pope they might serve God to the Glory of his Name and the encreasing their Salvation The 29th day when the King Queen and Cardinal were present the Chancellor arose and openly declar'd what the States had consented to in relation to the Demands of the Pope's Legate and thereupon he delivered to the King and Queen the Petition of the States in writing Sign'd and Seal'd by them and begg'd they would receive it the King and Queen receiving and opening it they again delivered
it to the Chancellor that it might be read which being done the Chancellor ask'd the States if they ratified it Which being affirm'd by them the King and Queen rose up and presented it to the Cardinal He having read the Petition delivered to them the Bull of his Legation which was also openly forthwith read that all might know that the Pope had given him Power to absolve them after which he made a Speech wherein he shewed them how acceptable Repentance was to God and how much the Holy Angels rejoyced in the Repentance of a Sinner and having given them many Examples of this he gave God great Thanks that inspired into them a Mind desirous of Amendment This being done he arose as did also the King and Queen and their Majesties kneeled down whilst he addressed himself to God imploring his Mercy and beseeching him to look mercifully upon the People and to forgive them their sins And saying that he was sent as Legate from the Pope Christ's Vicar to absolve them he lifted up and stretched out his Hand over them as their manner is blessing all of them and absolving them at the same time From thence they went to the Chappel where solemn Thanks were again offered up to God with much Musick and all the Signs of a Festival Joy according to the Custom of the Nation They who were intimately acquainted with Cardinal Pool and had enjoyed his Conversation and knew his Customs did much admire this Action and did expect something from him very different from what they found The 18th of December the Emperor from Brussels sent a Letter to all the Princes and States of the Empire the Contents of which were these The great Causes for which Albert Marquess of Brandenburg was about a year since out-law'd by the Imperial Chamber of Spire and declared guilty of High Treason have been clearly shewn to you by the Letters of that Chamber which were publickly set up and also by those Letters and Commands you afterwards received from us And whereas I am informed that he stubbornly continues in his said turbulent and seditious Counsels and doth certainly design new Troubles that he may yet further afflict and vex Germany which is our common Countrey and lastly because he has made his Retreat and found shelter and refuge with some I think it necessary to renew the former Sentence for the Welfare of our Countrey I do this the rather because I believe there is not one amongst you who does not love his Countrey and desire that care may be taken for the preservation of himself his Territories and the People and that the ill designs of the said Marquess and his Adherents may be hindred and retarded Wherefore upon the Penalties heretofore proposed I again command That no man presume in any wise to assist him or his Adherents with Help Counsel Entertainment Money Victual or Ammunition and Arms As also I will that every of you make it his greatest care that neither he nor his Adherents may be suffered to gather any Forces or list any Souldiers in the Territories belonging to any of you and that every of you do to the utmost of his Power hinder those within his Territories from running over to the said Marquess and punish all such as shall be found Breakers of this our Order and disobedient to our Commands This Letter was Printed and sent into all Parts The Twenty Ninth Day of December Ferdinand King of the Romans came to Ausburg on the account of the Diet I have so often already mentioned but finding none of the Princes or States there two days after he sent Letters and Envoys to the several Princes representing to them That seeing that there being many things of the greatest moment to be transacted in this Assembly he to his great loss and trouble had left his Territories and was come thither that he might consult with them That they might together consider of the necessary and safe Means of relieving the afflicted state of Germany He therefore earnestly desired that they would forthwith personally come thither and not send their Deputies for such was the greatness of the Cause now under consideration that it could not be well otherwise dispatched That the Emperor his Brother had given him a full Power and that he would not detain them longer than was necessary The Sixteenth of January the Parliament of England was dissolved Amongst many other Acts passed in this Parliament after the Repeal of the Act of Attainder against Cardinal Pool the Acts made in the times of the former Kings R. 2. H. 4. and H. 5. against Hereticks and in favour of the Bishops were revived The Papal Power was entirely restored and whatsoever Acts of Parliament had been made against the See of Rome within Twenty years last past were repealed Most thought the Crown of England would in this Parliament have been given to King Philip but there was nothing of that Nature done In the beginning of February there were Five condemned to be burnt for persisting in the Protestant Religion and refusing to return to the Roman Catholick Religion John Hooper Bishop of Gloucester John Bradford Lawrence Sanders Rowland Taylor a Lawyer and John Rogers all men of eminent Learning The last of these was burnt in London where he had been a Preacher the rest were sent into their respective Countries Gloucester Manchester Coventry and Hadley who all of them suffered Death with great Constancy The 30th of March Ferrar late Bishop of St. Davids was burnt also at Carmarthen by Morgan his Successor in that See. There were also three Ambassadors sent from England to Rome to thank the Pope for his great Clemency shewn to them and promise his Holiness an entire Obedience and Fidelity for the future The Fifth Day of February King Ferdinand opened the Diet at Ausburg though few of the Princes were then arrived there by a Speech wherein he told them That they very well knew for what grand and necessary Causes this Diet had been first appointed to be held at Ulm by the Emperor who had afterwards commanded it to be opened in this City the 13th of November That he for his part desired to have begun it that day pursuant to the Desire and Command of his Brother but that he was kept at home by the necessity of Affairs that so he might secure his Countries from the Insults of a near Enemy in case any Attempt had been made upon them and that he might so order his Affairs at home in this Interval that all things might go regularly forward during his Absence That after this forced Delay he arrived here the 29th of December in order to the holding this Diet. He said The Sum of the Emperor's Desire was That whatever tended to the Glory of God and the Tranquillity of the Empire might be established by the Council of all the Princes and States That as to the Diligence Study Labour and Care which the
the Emperor resigns the Government to his Son. The Answer of the Roman-Catholicks to the Demands of the Lutherans Those Bishops that change their Religion are to be removed A Parliament in England Libells against the Spaniards spread about London John Gropper offered a Cardinal's Hat which he refused The Deputies of Austria ask of Ferdinand a Liberty to embrace the Reformation The Duke of Prussia professeth the Augustan Confession Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Burnt The Bavarians desire to embrace the Reformation A Truce between the Emperor and King of France The Cardinal of Ausburg's Apology The Diet opened at Ratisbone Transylvania revolts from King Ferdinand The Emperor and his Sisters set Sail for Spain The Death of John Sleidan the Author of this History I Have given an account how England returned under the obedience of the See of Rome in the last Book when the account of this Revolution which was sent with the utmost Celerity came to the Knowledge of that Court there was a vast Joy expessed in the City and extraordinary Processions were made to the Churches and the twenty fourth of December the Pope published a Declaration to this purpose After I had heard saith he that England which has now for some Years been separated and torn off from the Body of the Church was by the immense Mercy of God and the extraordinary Diligence Faith Study and Labour of King Philip Queen Mary and Reginald Cardinal of England reduced to the Communion of the Church and the obedience of this See My Mind was filled with a mighty Joy and as was fit I forthwith rendred to Godâ—s great Thanks as I could nor have I since omitted any thing which might tend to the Communicating the Fruit and Benefit of this my Joy to the whole City But then as the Father in the Gospel who received his Prodigal Son was not satisfied with an inward Exultation and private Joy but invited others to his Feast that they too might rejoice with him and make merry So that the whole Earth may understand the greatness of my Joy I will and Command that publick Thanksgivings and Prayers be made And also by the Authority and Power which I have I allow every Man the Liberty to chuse what Priest he likes best and that having rightly confessed his Sins to him I allow also that Priest a Faculty to remit all sorts of Sins how abominable soever they be even those Sins which belong only to me to remit and which are wont by Name to be excepted And that he shall not only remit the Guilt but the Penalty or Pain due to those Sins which are so confessed That he shall impose what satisfaction he thinks fit and relax all Vows except those of Chastity and religious Orders and so as they be commuted into other works And trusting in the Mercy of God and the intercession of St. Peter and St. Paul I grant a full and intire remission of all Sins which is only granted at the Determination of fifty years at other times to all those who with an humble and contrite Heart shall turn to God and perfectly confess their Sins as soon as they hear of this my Bull and shall twice or thrice in a Week endeavour to appease God by Fasting Alms and other Pious Exercises and shall after this receive the Holy Eucharist with Thanksgivings beseeching God in their Prayers that he would illuminate those that walk in the darkness of Error with the Light of his Countenance that he would send us Peace and incline the Hearts of Kings to Concord And I grant the same Benefit to those who are hindred by Age or Sickness from performing what is above required And that these our Letters may be every where Published I command all Patriarchs Archbishops and the like so soon as they receive the Copy hereof that they forthwith divulge it throughout their several Provinces and as it is a free Gift that they propose it every where without any gain I have said in the former Book that Blasseburg was the principal Fortress the Marquess of Brandenburg had in all his Country and that it was surrendred to the Confederates These Princes considering that being by one means or another recovered it might be the occasion of greater Mischiefs and about this time entirely ruined and demolished it to the great Exasperation of the whole Family of Brandenburg and of all the Kindred of it In the Interim Ferdinand King of the Romans both before he left his Territories and after he arrived at Ausburg for the holding the Diet did continually by his Envoys and Letters sollicit the Princes to hasten thither as I said in the last Book His first and greatest Care was to perswade Augustus Elector and Duke of Saxony He had before this alledged for his Absence the unsettled State of Saxony and now again sent his Deputies to the Diet with the same Excuses and occasionally mentioning the Turks he endeavoured to shew the great danger Germany was exposed to which heretofore having been Potent and formidable to her Enemies was now almost exhausted and depopulated by the many Mischiefs and Wounds she had suffered He said this Calamity received a great Improvement from the disaffection and distrust which the States of the Empire laboured under That the Emperor and his Majesty had omitted nothing which might procure a Remedy against this Disease But that hitherto all their Labour had been in vain for that the Minds of Men were so Exasperated and such ways were open to the admitting new offences that it was not reasonable to expect any mitigation His Brother Maurice some years since he said had commanded that some Ceremonies and other things of an indifferent Nature should be retained in the Churches of his Provinces but then this Command was not only slighted and disobeyed but was attacked by many Libels and rude Reproaches so that afterwards it was not in his Power to re-establish those things unless he would have exposed himself and that by this means some other Princes had been deterred from attempting any thing of this Nature But now those who are of the other Party and oppose the Augustan Confession have given apparent Signs that they intend not the least Pious and Legal Reformation by the Actions of the former times when this affair was considered either in Councils or Conferences Seeing therefore after so many fruitless Labours the loss of many Years and the disappointment of many Councils no way to an Agreement and Union could be found out because perhaps it was the Pleasure of God thus to punish the Sins of Men therefore he desired very earnestly that the Confession of Faith delivered in at Ausburg as a Sum of the Christian Religion might not be thought by his Majesty an impious Book but that it was a pure and a Pious Writing which shew that the Son of God was the Author of Salvation that the Doctrine of it did exactly agree with the
be entirely reserved to them But so that those Princes and States in whose Territories the same are shall not hereby lose that civil Right they had before this difference of Religion in and to the said Goods And moreover that they may with the same Goods provide for the necessary Services of the Churches Parishes Alms Hospitals of the Poor and Sick according to their first Constitution without any Consideration of which of the Religions the Person is who shall be thus assisted or relieved and maintained And if upon the account of this Alimony or the manner of it any Difference or Suit shall arise they shall mutually or by consent chuse Arbitrators who having heard the Controversy shall within six Months determine and appoint what shall be deducted for such Uses and Services and conferred or bestowed upon the same And in the mean time till the Suit is thus determined they who are to pay this Allowance shall not be interrupted in their Possession but shall continue to yield and pay during the Suit what they anciently used to give or Pay. In October and November there was a Parliament held in England and most Men thought the Crowning King Philip would have been one of the principal Affairs of it but this was never proposed But the Queen sollicited the restitution of the Abby-Lands because the Pope required it but the great Men and Nobility had got them and therefore nothing could be done in that Affair But the Queen restored the first Fruits and the tenths to the Church During this Session of Parliament certain sharp and virulent Pamphlets were spread abroad in London in which were some things tending to stirring up the Minds of the People against the Spaniards and others for alienating the Mind of the Queen from King Philip her Husband and an Inquisition being made after the Authors of them nothing could be found Before the end of this Parliament Gardiner Bishop of Winchester died of a Dropsie the twelfth of November who was then Lord Chancellor of England which Office in February following was given to Heath Archbishop of York who had travelled with Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury in Germany and did then profess the Reformed Religion About the fifth of November died the Wife of John Frederick Elector of Saxony who was the Daughter of the Landgrave whose Marriage I have mentioned above Francisco Venerio Duke of Venice was deposed for having unfaithfully managed the business of the Corn and sought his own private more than the publick Good. When the Emperor had resigned the Soveraignty and Government of the Low Countries Philip his Son sent Ambassadors to the principal Princes and Cities of Germany to acquaint them with it and to offer them his Friendship and Alliance And at the same time the Ambassadors of King Ferdinand solicited the said Princes and Cities to be present at the day prefixed for the opening of the Diet because a great danger hung over his Head from the Turks who had demanded of him the resigning into his Hands of the Principality of Transylvania which was very strong by Nature and exceeding Fruitful and afforded great numbers of Horsemen He called also a Diet of his own Provinces for the same purpose in which the States of lower Austria desired to have Liberty of Conscience granted them But the King turned them over to the general Diet at Ratisbon for an answer to this and he also appointed them to meet again the thirteenth of January of the next Year at Vienna The Marquess di Marignano dying at Milan the Emperor or his Son sent the Cardinal of Trent to supply his Place and the Duke de Alva was made Viceroy of the Kingdom of Naples About Christmas the Pope according to his Custom created some new Cardinals amongst whom he named John Gropper Coadjutant to the Archbishop of Cologne who has been often mentioned by me who refused the acceptance of this Dignity And then Cardinal Pool was first promoted from a Cardinal Deacon to a Cardinal Presbyter and began to say Mass which by the Papal Laws is not allowed to the Deacons In the beginning of January there were horrible Tempests in Saxony Misnia and Bohemia attended with Thunder Lightning and violent Winds which every where did great dammages especially to the Churches In the same Month at Wintertbur a Town of Switzerland two Miles from Zurich in the Night time after Supper a Fire appeared in one of the Turrets of the Church which seemed by its noise and brightness to threaten the Ruin of that Fabrick but when the Inhabitants came to put it out it was a delusion and they found no Fire this happened twice in this Month viz. the fourth and the fourteenth day Some of the Cantons being after this solicited by the Pope went to Rome which caused a very great Suspition in many King Philip being to enter upon his new Government upon the Resignation of his Father began it with a pompous and splendid Entrance the eighteenth day of January into Antwerp which was then the Principal City of those Countries The Persecution of the Protestants in England was then very sharp The thirteenth of January the Deputies and States of Austria met at Vienna as they had been Commanded when the King shewed them in a long and grave Speech how great the danger was which threatned them from the Tarks and therefore admonished them forth with to expedite their Succours aud to grant him Money that he might be in a Condition to repress his Cruelty and Rage Then those which belonged to the lower Austria acquainted him that they were commanded linded by their Principals in the first Place to transact the business of Religion That therefore they informed his Majesty what they had been doing for fourteen years last past how often they had addressed to him and supplicated him in this affair and what kind of Edicts he had in the mean time issued out contrary to their Expectation And therefore say they seeing all our Counsels against the Turks have been disappointed and as yet we have been so far from repressing him that he has rather more and more prevailed against us and has taken many Cities Towns Castles and strong Forts in Hungary and Sclavonia and now hangs over our Heads we may therefore justly aver that it is a manifest Judgment of God who chastiseth us for our Sins and afflicts us because we have not amended our Lives and that in such manner that it is visible that if his Word is not received and a Reformation of Life promoted we shall lose not only our Lives and Fortunes but Eternal Salvation too For though the whole Earth were to Arm against that Enemy whilst it remains in this unreformed state of Life there is no Victory to be hoped for but instead of it Ruin and Destruction as hath often heretofore happened to the most flourishing Kingdoms We did something towards this in the last Convention when
imaginable That the Town had been taken but the Castle still held out but much oppressed by the Cannon of the Enemy That he had received Accounts by Letters and Messengers That the Bassa of Bosnia was assembling great Forces to in vade Sclavonia That the Beglerbeg of Greece was drawing great Forces together at Sophia and then designed to come forward and that Solyman himself would come into Hungary in Autumn to Winter there or at least that he would be there early in the Spring with a vast Army to take Vienna That in a time of so great distress he was not at leisure nor durst he leave his Provinces but was wholly taken up in providing for the Defence and Security of them and because he would not have the Dyet held any longer in suspence which was contrary to the Interest of the Empire he had committed the management of it to the Duke of Bavaria that he might begin it and preside till he could come thither himself That he had sent a splendid Ambassy to treat of a Peace or a Truce three years since with Solyman and his Ambassadors were detained at Constantinople and although a Truce had been concluded till the Ambassador should return home yet the Turk had broke his Faith and had taken many Towns and Castles in the Borders of his Kingdom of Hungary and seeing he was now battering Sigeth it was not reasonable to expecta firm and lasting Peace upon tolerable Conditions This being the state of things he said a great and terrible Danger was threatned thereby not only to the Remainder of the Kingdom of Hungary but to Austria and all Germany and therefore it was needful to come presently to a Resolution of sending Succours and levying money for the defence of it which might be deposited in certain Places to be issu'd out by publick Treasurers as need should require That the King had sollicited other Princes to send Supplies and that he was resolv'd to spare no Treasures and to hazard his own Person and his Sons But then his Hereditary Countries being exhausted by a War which had lasted so many years were not now able to grapple with so formidable an Enemy alone but it was absolutely needful the Empire should assist them and that speedily And seeing in the last Dyet it was resolved That the composing the Differences of Religion should be considered in this he earnestly exhorted them to consider whether it was possible to be done and by what way They were to consider also of the Money and of the establishing the Peace of the Empire But then the Turkish War ought not to be postpon'd or delay'd but to be one of their first and most important Considerations that so the present and impending Danger might be averted The 15th day of September the Emperour having a fair Wind and a promising Season set Sail with a good Fleet for Spain and took along with him as his Companions in this Voyage Mary Queen-Dowager of Hungary and Leonora Queen-Dowager of France his Sisters But before his departure he had resigned to his Son Philip the Government of the Low-Countries and to his Brother King Ferdinand the Empire of Germany to which purpose he had sent a Letter to the Electors wherein he desired they would accept of him and acknowledge and obey him as Emperour of Germany The last day of October John Sleidan I. V. L. a Person worthy of great Commendations on the account of the rare Endowments of his Mind and his great Learning died at Strasburg and was honourably buried FINIS A CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION To the End of the COUNCIL OF TRENT In the Year 1563. Collected and Written by E. B. Esq LONDON Printed in the Year MDCLXXXIX A CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION BOOK I. The CONTENTS The Introduction The Revolt of Transylvania The Siege and brave Defence of Sigeth a Town in Hungary Charles V resigns the Empire He goes to Spain John Sleidan's Death and Character Paul III a Furious Prince The War between him and King Philip in Italy The Peace between them The Affairs of England The Dyet of Ratisbonne The Death of Ignatius Loyola the Founder of the Order of Jesuites And of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg The unsuccessful Conference at Wormds between the Romish and Protestant Divines The War between France and Spain The Siege Battle and Taking of S. Quintin Charles V his Letter to his Son. The Spanish Army disperse and the French increase A Persecution in France The Siege and Loss of Calais The Situation and Form of that Town Guines taken A Turkish Fleet land in many Places in Italy and carry many into Captivity The Dauphin Married to Mary Queen of Scotland The first Overtures for a Peace between the Kings of France and Spain Andelot Marshal of France ruined by the Arts of the Duke of Guise Thionville Besieged and Taken by the French. The Defeat of the French near Graveling An unsuccessful Expedition of the English against France The Treaty of Cambray began The Parliament of England meet and Queen Mary Dies The German Affairs the Death and Character of Charles V. The Succession of Queen Elizabeth The Scotch Affairs and the first setling of the Reformation in that Kingdom IT was the Misfortune of this Great Man John Sleidan to die in that nick of Time when the Fates of the two contending Religions and of all Christendom were just upon the setling It is true he lived to see the Augustane Confession setled in the Dyet of Ausburg and perhaps he might hear of the Resignation of the Empire by Charles V to his Brother Ferdinand but then Death surprized him before he could give any account of it for with it he designed to have begun the next Book in all probability and to have filled up this with some other Accidents such as a large account of the Revolt of Transylvania and the Siege of Sigeth would have afforded him But then had he lived till the Year 1563 he should have seen the Death of Queen Mary Henry II of France and Charles V and the setling of the Roman Catholick Religion by the Determination of the Council of Trent contrary to the Expectation of all Men which seems to be the first Period of the Reformation and absolutely necessary to give the Reader a clear Prospect and full View of the first Joynt of this great Revolution I have therefore persuaded the Stationer to add a Suppliment to this Version for that purpose and because I am a Member of the Religion by Law established and not willing to offend them of the other Persuasions I resolve to advance nothing in it but from Authors who lived and dyed in the Communion of the Church of Rome shewing the matter of Fact with great Brevity and making few or no Reflections of my own That so the Reader may be left entirely to himself to think what he Please and God shall direct him I will
which when she refused the Protestants marched thither the Twenty fourth of June and in a few days took it From thence they march'd to the Abbey of Scone and took and sack'd it and being informed the Regent designed to put a French Garrison into Sterling they went in the night from St John's-Town thither and surprized it and ruined all the Monasteries Images and Altars They also changed the Religion at Lithgo in the way to Sterling and wheresoever they prevail'd The Regent and the French in the mean time retired from Edinburg to Dunbar expecting till this Storm should blow over and here they heard of the Death of Henry II of France The Protestants rejoyced at it as a thing that tended to their Safety but had like to have made it the occasion of their Ruine by withdrawing from the Army The Regent thereupon marched with her Forces to Edinburg and in the way had a fair opportunity to have fought and overthrown the remainder of thier Army which was prevented by the Duke of Hamilton and James Earl of Dowglass The Twenty fourth of July a Truce was made to last till the Tenth of January which the Regent observed so much the more exactly because she found by Experience that the former breach of Promise had involved her in greater Difficulties and Distresses Yet even here she could not totally lay aside her old wont but broke Faith as far as she durst It is necessary here to Transcribe some of our English Affairs which relate to Scotland that we may see how far and upon what Provocations Queen Elizabeth was concern'd Henry II of France had no sooner ended his War with King Philip but he began to cast an Eye upon England as very convenient for the Dauphin King his Son and Mary Queen of the Scots and on that Account refused to recall the French Forces out of Scotland as by the last Treaty he had promised but instead of that he sent more thither by stealth and was very earnest with the Pope to declare Queen Elizabeth an Heretick and Illegitimate and Mary the Lawful Heir of England which yet was diligently but under-hand oppos'd by the Imperial and Spanish Agents at Rome However the Guises never left exciting the credulous and ambitious Hopes of that Prince of Uniting the Crown of England to that of France by the means of Queen Mary their Heir till at last they prevail'd on him to assert openly the Pretences of his Son and Daughter-in-Law and to consent they might use this Title Francis and Mary by the Grace of God King and Queen of Scotland England and Ireland and to quarter the Arms of England with those of Scotland upon their Plate and on the Walls of their Palaces and the Coats of their Heraulds The English Embassador complain'd of this but to no purpose as tending to the great Injury of his Mistress with whom they had lately made a Peace they having never done it in the Life of Queen Mary though there was a War between the Nations That there were great numbers of Soldiers Listed in France and Germany to be Transported into Scotland upon the same Continent with England So that Queen Elizabeth had just reason to suspect the Intentions of the French who now breathed nothing but Blood and Death against the Protestants but that Prince's Designs whatever they were perished with him to the great Advantage of Queen Elizabeth who had otherwise been attack'd by all the Forces of France and Scotland both as Illigitimate and an Heretick Yet she ordered his Exequies to be celebrated at St. Paul's with great Solemnity and by Charles Son to the Lord Howard of Effingham her Envoy condol'd his Death congratulated the Succession of Francis his Son and promis'd to observe the Peace between them religiously Yet Francis the new King and Mary his Wife the Queen of the Scots by the Advice of the Guises who now had got the Government of France in a manner into their Hands still continued the Claim of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and the use of the Arms thereof more openly And when Throgmorton the English Embassadour in ordinany a Wise and Stout Man severely expostulated the Business They replyed Queen Mary might assume the Arms of England with some small Distinction to shew her near Relation to that Royal Blood. But he denyed this could be done by the Laws of Heraldry if the Person using the Arms of another Family was not derived from a certain Heir After this they pretended They only used these Arms to force the Queen to lay aside the use of the Arms of France To which he answered That twelve Kings of England as Dr. Woton shewed in the Treaty of Cambray had worn the Arms of France with so undoubted a Right that no opposition had been made to it in any Treaty between France and England At last by the Interposition of Montmorancy who was no Friend to the Guises he prevailed and the Title of England and Ireland and the use of the Arms of those Kingdoms was laid aside because that great Man thought It was not for the Honour of France to have any other Title or Arms assumed or engraven on their Seal than that of the King of France That this one Title was as good as many And he also shewed That the former Kings used no other tho' they claimed the Dutchy of Milan and the Kingdom of Naples But however from this Use of the Title and Arms of England imposed on this young Queen by the Arts of the Guises and the Ambition of Henry II as from a Fountain sprung all those Calamities which afterwards ruined her For from this Time Queen Elizabeth was a declared Enemy to the Guises and a concealed one to the Queen of Scots which last enmity was by the Malice of cunning Men a growing Emulation and new Occasions which every day sprung up so improved that at last it ended in her Death For Princes will endure no Rival and Majesty is very sensible of Affronts The French by the Treaty were to give four Hostages for the Restitution of Calais within eight Years but when it was to be done they would give but three The English Merchants were ill used in France A Servant of Throcmorton's the Embassadour was sent by Francis Grand Prior of France the Brother of Guise publickly to the Gallies A Pistol was discharged against the Embassadour in his own Lodgings And he had no Plate allowed him for his Table but what had the Arms of England engraven on it in contempt Du Brossay was also sent with Supplies of French into Scotland And the Gallies of France were brought from Marseille in the Mediterranean into the British Seas This was the State of Affairs between France and England when the Troubles of Scotland broke out and the Lords of the Articles sent William Maitland their Secretary who made a deplorable Representation of the State of that Kingdom to Queen Elizabeth
days ibid. Marot Clement an account of him 310. Mary Q. of Hungary made Governess of the Netherlands 149. Goes to Augsbourg to Mediate for the mitigation of the Emperors Edict 501. Holds a Convention of the States of the Netherlands at Aix la Chapelle 560. She stops the Landgrave at Mastricht 573. Mary Q. of Scots Troubles in her Minority 316. Affianced to Prince Edward of England ibid. Is carried into France 477. Mary Daughter to Henry VIII Proclaims her self Queen of England upon K. Edward's death 589. Enters London ibid. Makes Gardiner Chancellor ibid. Beheads the D. of Northumberland ibid. She Establishes the Popish Religion again in England 591. Orders a publick Disputation at London 593. Dissolves K. Edward's Laws about Religion in Parliament 595. Marries Pr. Philip of Spain ibid. Breaks Wiat's Conspiracy 596. Beheads Jane Grey and the Duke of the Suffolk ibid. Banishes Foreign Protestants out of England 597. Publishes a Book of Articles about Religion ibid. Commits the Princess Ellizabeth to the Tower 598. Her Marriage with K. Philip is solemnized with great splendor 604. Calls a Parliament wherein England is again subjected to Rome 605 606. Dissolves that Parliament 607. Burns several for Religion ibid. She mediates a Peace between the Emperor and King of France 616. It was reported that she was with Child ibid. She encreases the Persecution in England ibid. Her Ambassadors return home from Rome 618. She calls a Parliament where she proposes the Restitution of the Church-Lands in vain 627. Martyr Peter comes into England and professes Divinity at Oxon 443. Disputes there about the Lord's Supper 483. Is in trouble upon Edward's Death 590. Applies himself to Cranmer ibid. Gets leave to be gone Ibid. Goes to Zurich 637. Matthews John a great Prophet among the Anabaptists commands a Community of Goods 194. Runs Truteling through with a Pike by Inspiration ibid. Is run through himself by a Soldier ibid. Maurice D. of Saxony Marries the Landgrave's Daughter 272. Quarrels with the Elector of Saxony 292. Is wounded in Hungary 304. Refuses to enter into the Protestant League after his Father's death ibid. Makes Laws for the Government of the Country 311. Endeavours an accommodation between the D. of Brunswick and the Landgrave 353. Perswades the D. of Brunswick to surrender 354. Purges himself of Treachery ibid. Holds a Secret Conference with the Emperor at Ratisbon 380. Has a Conference with K. Ferdinand 391. Calls a Convention of the States at Chemnitz 405. Consults against the Protestants ibid. His Friends write to the Protestants 406. He writes to the Landgrave ibid. Writes to the Elector 409. And to his Son ibid. Takes most of the Electors Towns ibid. Is ill spoken of and Lampoon'd by the Protestants 410. Publishes a Manifesto to clear himself ibid. Joins Ferdinand to go towards Bohemia 423. Intercedes for the Landgrave 429. Writes to the Landgrave to comply 430. Receives Wittemberg with the rest of the Electorate from the Emperor 431. Exacts an Oath of Allegiance of John Frederick's Subjects ibid. Promises the Landgrave to interceed with the Emperor at Hall 433. And Remonstrates about it ibid. Receives the Wittemberg Divines Graciously 435. He is invested in the Electorate Solemnly at Augsbourg 457. Calls a Convention at Meissen who draw up a Form of Religion for Saxony 478. Intercedes with Prince Philip for the Landgrave ibid. Writes to the States to clear himself from the imputation of Popery 484. His Deputies at Augsbourg protest against the Council of Trent 499. He engages in the Expedition against the Magdebourghers 502. He is made Generalissimo of that War 503. He attacks the Magdebourghers 504. Defeats Heideck and Mansfeldt ibid. He promises the Landgrave Aid secretly 505. Routed in a Sally by the Magdebourghers ibid. Proposes Conditions of Peace to the Town 515. Commands his Divines to draw up a Confession of their Faith ibid. Demands a safe Conduct for his Divines to go to the Council of Trent 516. Sends the Proposals to the Magdebourghers by Heideck 521. He holds a Convention about the business of Magdebourg 525. He takes an Oath of Fidelity from the men of atzenelbogen 526. He concludes a Peace with the City of Magdebourg 528. Complains of the Preachers ibid. Hatches a War against the Emperor 529. Sends Ambassadors to the Emperor about the Landgrave 531. He holds a Conference with Prince William the Landgrave's Son 534. His Ambassadors come to Trent and declare their Instructions 537. They join with the Agents of Wirtemberg and Strasburg to sollicite for the hearing of the Protestants in the Council ibid. The Saxon Divines are upon their way to come to the Council 541. The Ambassadors complain against Perlargus ibid. Maurice sends Letters to his Ambassadors 542. They leave Trent secretly ibid. His care for the release of the Landgrave 549. He declares War against the Emperor 550. Takes the Field and joins with Marq. Albert 555. He goes with the other Princes and besieges Ulm 556. Treats with Ferdinand of Conditions of Peace ibid. Writes to the French King 558. His Army Skirmishes with the Imperialists 559. A Mutiny in his Camp for want of Pay ibid. His Soldiers make the Emperor fly from Inspruck 560. Which is Plundered ibid. They Publish a Declaration ibid. He restores the Outed Ministers ibid. His Grievances at the Treaty of Passaw 563. His Proposals at the Treaty 566. He is impatient of delay and hastens Ferdinand 568. He returns to the Confederates 569. Besieges Francfort ibid. At last he accepts a Peace 571. Sends his Forces into Hungary 573. Sends Commissioners to treat with John Frederick's Commissioners to no purpose 577. Went to Heidelberg to mediate between Albert and the Bishops 578. Makes a League with the D. of Brunswick ibid. Declares War against Marq. Albert 581. He overcomes Albert and is killed in the Fight 586. His Death foretold by Prodigies ibid. Maximilian Emperor holds a Diet at Augsbourg 4. Writes in August 1518. to Pope Leo to correct Luther and to put an end to his growing Heresies 5. Dies Jan. 12. 1519. 13. Sends Ambassadors to the Council of Pisa 26. Goes off to Pope Julius 27. Sends Langus to the Lateran Council ibid. Commissions Hogostrate and Reuchlin to examine Jewish Books 30. Wars with the Switzers 469. Maximilian Son to Ferdinand comes into Germany out of Spain 505. Is well beloved ibid. He returns home from Spain 529. Is honourably received at Trent 535. Goes to Brussels 637. Mecklenbourg vide George D. of Mecklenbourg Mechlin almost consumed by Lightning 392. Medices the rise of that Family to Greatness 169. Meinier President of the Parliament of Aix persecutes the Waldenses 345. Vses the Inhabitants of Merindol and Cabriers barbarously 345 346. Meissen John Bishop of Meissen Opposes Luther about Communion in both kinds 25. Melancthon Philip comes to Wittemberg 21. Goes to Leipzick ib. Answers the Parisian Censure of Luther's Books 47. Comes to the Diet at Augsbourg 127. One of the Protestant Deputies there to mediate an
with those of Zurich about Religion The Answer of the Senate of Zurich The Bishop of Constance's Book to those of Zurich Their Answer to it Images abolished at Zurich The Recess or Decree of the Dyet of Norimberg The Bishop Strasburg's Complaint to Cardinal Campegius The Senate's Justification Campegius's Plea with the Deputies of Strasburg The Resolution of some Catholicks at Ratisbone The Regulations for Reformation of the Clergy Luther's Admonition to the Princes of Germany The Pope sends a Golden Rose to the King of England Erasmus his Book of Free-will Henry of Zutphen suffers The Duke of Bourbonne Besieges Marseilles An Insurrection of the Boors Complaints of the Popish Clergy against the Senate of Strasburg 1525. Oecolampadius preaches at Basil A Tumult at Zurich The Zurichers expostulate with the rest of the Cantons The Senate of Strasburg gives an Answer to the Council of the Empire The Apology of the Ministers of Strasburg The French King made Prisoner Vlrick Duke of Wertemberg in vain attempts to recover his Country The Boors take the Field The Boors worsted The Boors Army in Algow dispersed The Cruelty of some Boors at Winsperg An Insurrection of the Boors also in Lorrain And 18000 of them are slain Another Slaughter of the Boors at Wormes Geismeier the General of the Boors assassinated A Sedition in Cologn The number of those that were killed The Princes and Cities ingaged in the Schwabian League Mass abolished at Zurich Muncer a great Sectarian Muncer preaching at Mulhausen got new Magistrates created and the Monks ejected whose Monasteries he and others took possession of Phifer Muncer's Companion and his enthusiastick Pretences Frederick Elector of Saxony dies The Princes Forces against the Boors Muncer's seditious Speech A Consternation in Muncer's Camp. The Speech of the Langrave of Hesse to his Soldiers The Princes Army overcome the Muncerianâ— Muncer taken His Discourse to the Princes His unseasonable laughing upon the Rack Luther advises to have a care of Muncer He published a Book dehorting the Boors from Sedition The Boors Demands Luther's Answer to the Grievances of the Boors Luther's Monitory to the Princes and Nobility Luther's common Epistle to the Nobles and Boors Luther sends an Allarm against the Boors The Emperour's Letters for calling the Dyet of Auâ—burg Carolostadius his Exposition of This is my Body Luther marries a Nun. Zuinglius differs from Luther about the Lord's Supper Pope Clement's Letters to the Parliament of Paris The Sorbonists persecute James Fevre The French King writes in his behalf A Change in Prusia The Original of the Teutonick Order The Master of Prusia deserts the Empire Is made Duke and imbraces the Reformed Religion Luther writes to the King of England Luther writes also to George Duke of Saxony The King of England's sharp Answer to Luther A League betwixt France and England Luther's Complaint of the King of England The French King sick in Prison 1526. The Treaty of Peace at Madrid betwixt the Emperor and French King. The French King leaving his two Sons Hostages is set at liberty The Dyet of Spire The Emperour's Letter to the States of the Empire about observing the Decree of Wormes The Turks invade Hungary The Judgment of some Cities in the Dyet of Worraes A Complaint of some Cities of Germany against Mendicant Fryers Against the Immunities of the Clergy Against Holydays A Dissention among the States at Spire about Religion The decree of Spire concerning Religion The beginning of a League among those of the reformed Religion Lewis King of Hungary slain The Marriage of Charles V. A Disputation at Baden The Points disputed The Issue of the Disputation John Huglie a Priest burnt for Religion The League of the Pope French and Veretians against the Emperour The Pope's expostulatory Letter to the Emperor The Emperour's Answer to the Pope The Emperour's Letter to the Colledge of Cardinals The French King's Letters to the Princes of Germany The Emperour's Letter to the Princes of Germany The Princes Letter to the Emperour The Demands of the Pope Venetians and French who were Confederates 1527. The Emperour's Answer unto them The Elector John Frederick marries the Daughter of the Duke of Cleve Rome taken and plundered by the Duke of Bourbonne The 〈◊〉 of the Diet of Ratisbonne The sect of the Anabaptists The French King renews a War in Italy Alexandria and Pavia taken by the French. Leonard Cesar Burnt for Religion Ferdinand made King of Bohemia A Dispute at Berne 1528. Popery abolished in the Canton of Berne Ambrose Blancer at Constance There Mass Images and Ceremonies are abolished As also at Geneva The Kings of England and France send Ambassadours to the Emperour The French King challenges the Emperour to a Duel A War betwixt Ferdinand and the Vaivode The Vaivod's Complaint to the Princes of Germany King Ferdinand's Title to Hungary The Elector of Saxony and Landgrave prepare for War. The Emperour's Answer to the French King's Challenge A Dyet appointed at Spire Naples besieged by the French. A Contention at Strasburg about the Mass The Popish Preachers silenced by the Senate there 1529. Mass by common Consent abolished at Strasburg A Dissention about Religion at Basil Mass abolished at Basil And Images burnt The Dyet of Spire Five Cantons of Switzerland make a League with King Ferdinand The Deputy of Strasburg not admitted to sit in the Council of the Empire The Decree of the Dyet of Spire The Protestation of the Princes against the Decree of Spire Some Cities joyn in this Protestation The Original of the Name of Protestants The Protestants appeal to the Emperour A Civil War among the Switzers Peace betwixt the Emperour and French concluded at Cambray Solyman besieges Vienna But is forced to raise the Siege The Vaivode made King at Buda A New Disease in Germany Two Learned Men burnt at Cologne for Religion A Conference at Marpurg betwixt Luther and Zuinglius Erasmus writes a Book against the Reformers Which is answered Sforza recovers the Dutchy of Milan The Protestant Ambassadours with the Emperour The Ambassadors appeal from the Emperour's Answer and are confined to their Lodgings Caden presents a Book about Religion to the Emperour in name of the Landgrave For which being stopt and in danger he makes his escape and returns home The Assembly of the Protestants at Smalcalde The League betwixt the City of Strasburg and the Switzers 1530. The French King's Sons return to France with his Queen The Emperour makes his entry into Ausburg The Emperour's Speech in the Dyet of Ausburg Campegius's Speech to the Princes The Protestants Confession of Faith presented at Ausburg The Popish Divines confute the Augustane Confession The Duke of Saxony's general Answer to the Confutation of the Popish Divines The Landgrave departed from the Dyet The Florentine War. Commissioners for reconciling Religion The Pope gives King Ferdinand leave to make use of the Ornaments and Goods of the Church The Emperour's Speech to the Protestants The Protestants Answer Truchses his Speech
an Embassador to the Switzers The Protestants Embassy to the Emperor The Emperor writes to the Protestants Perone is besieged Francis the Dolphin dies A Provincial Council at Cologne Erasmus dies A rising in England The Protestants answer the Emperors Letter The Bull for Reformation of the City of Rome The King of Scotland is married 1537. The Duke of Florence is murther'd The French King complains of the Emperor Cardinal Poole sent Nuncio to the French King. The Ausburghers publish a Book against the Ecclesiasticks A Convention of the Protestants at Smalcalde Eldo his Speech The Confederates Answer to the Emperor's Embassador Eldo his answer to the Protestants The Pope sendeth to Embassador to the Elector of Saxony The Protestants answer to Eldo The Decrees of the Protestants at Smalcalde A Paper containing the Protestants Reasons for their refusal of the Council The Pope prorogeth the Council The King of England publisheth a Paper against the Council which was called by the Pope The Imperialists take St. Paul by storm They besiege Therouenne without effect They carry Quiers by assault Turin is supplied with Provisions Ferdinand his Army beaten by the Turks Edward the Sixth of England is born The reason why the Pope would reconcile the Emperor and French King. Christiana of Denmark returns into Flanders The Gelderlanders rebel A Draught of the Reformation of the Church 1538. The Pope prorogues the Council again Luther writes a Book against the Reformation of the Papists Montmorency made Constable of France The Protestants meet at Brunswick A young Gentleman of Tholouse is burnt at Paris An Enterview of the Emperor and the French King at Aigues Mortes The Pope prorogues the Council Charles Count Egmond dies Erard Bishop of Leige his Death Thomas of Canterbury The Elector of Brandenburg sends an Ambassador to the Elector of Saxony The Answer of the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave to the Elector of Brandenburg A Convention at Eysenach The Rise of the Antinomians The Papists Holy League 1539. An Interview between the French King and Mary Regent of Flanders Minden is proscribed by the Chamber The Lantgrave intercepts the Duke of Brunswick's Letters The Duke of Brunswick and the Elector of Saxony write against one another A Diet held at Frankford The Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave write to the French King. The Death of George Duke of Saxony Luther preaches at Leipsick The Death of Isabella the Empress The King of England publishes another Paper about the Council of Vicenza Luther writes a Book about Councils A Parliament in England The Turk takes Castle-novo An Insurrection at Ghent A Convention at Arnstet The Emperor passeth through France 1540. The Turk makes a Peace with the Venetians The Protestants send Ambassadors to the Emperor The Protestants write to the French King. A Convention at Smalcald The Emperor's Answer to the Protestant Ambassadors Eldo is removed from his Places and retires from Court. Ambassadors sent to Smalcald to mediate a Peace The Protestants answer the Commissioners for Pacification What besides was done in the Assembly of Smalcald The Emperor punishes the Rebels of Ghent The Emperor's Letters to the Duke of Saxony and Lantgrave The Diet of Spire called Saxony and the Lantgrave's Answer to the Emperor Cardinal Farnese's Speech against the Protestants before the Emperor The French King secretly displeased The Duke of Cleve's Alliance with the French King. The Pope's War with those of Perugia The Diet of Haguenaw The French King's Edict against the Lutherans Cromwell Earl of Essex beheaded The King of England having put away Ann of Cleve marries the Lady Catharine Howard The Duke of Brunswick Accuses the Protestants The Acts of the Assembly of Haguenaw King Ferdinand's Proposals to the Protestants The Protestants Answer A Convention appointed to be at Wormes The Decree of Haguenaw Vayvode King of Hungary dies leaving a young Son Stephen Robert Barnes burnt at London Papists and Protestants burnt at the same time William Budey dies A most Hot and Dry Year The French King commands Prayers and Supplications to be made The Emperor confirms the Decree of Haguenaw and exhorts the Protestants to come to the Assembly at Wormes A Diet of the Empire called at Ratisbone Granvell's Speech in the Assembly at Wormes The Son of the Vayvode is put under the Protection of the Turk Ferdinand prepares to Invade Hungary Alaski committed to Prison by Solyman The Speech of the Legate Campeggio in the Assembly of Wormes The Conditions of the Conference at Wormes 1541. The Emperor dissolves the Conference Vergerius's Speech concerning the unity of the Church The Admiral of France condemned Duke Maurice's Marriage with the Lantgrave's Daughter The Diet of Ratisbone Luther's Book against the Duke of Brunswick The first Cause of the Troubles in Germany The Price of the Pall of the Archbishop of Mentz For what end the Indulgences granted The Way and Ceremony of making the Archiepiscopal Pall. Incendiaries hired by the Party of the Duke of Brunswick Who is accused thereof before Emperor The Acts of the Diet at Ratisbone The Protestants Answer to the Emperor's Proposals Persons chosen by the Emperor for the Conference His Exhortation to them The Presidents and Witnesses of the Conference at Ratisbone The Protestants write to the French King and intercede for their Suffering Brethren in Provence The Duke of Cleve's Treaty with the French King. The Marriage of the Duke of Cleve with the Daughter of Navarre The Admiral restored The Constable of France in disgrace The Acts of the Conference at Ratisbone Some of the States who disliked a Reformation procured all to be referred to the Pope's Legate The Protestants Address to the Emperor The Answer of the Pope's Legate His Exhortation to the Bishops The Legate's Speech being given to the Emperor was afterwards communicated to the States The Answer of the Protestant Divines to the Papers of Contarini The Legate's Third Paper to the States The Elector's Answer to the Emperor The Protestants Answer The Opinion of the Catholick Princes The Complaint of the Catholick Cities that they were excluded from the Deliberation of the Princes The Emperor refers the matter of Religion to the Council Eckius's Letter to the Princes Pflug and Gropper justify themselves from his Aspersions Contarini's Letter to the States against a National Council The Princes Answer to the Popes Legate And the Protestants also refute it The Decree of the Diet of Ratisbone A private Grant made by the Emperor to the Protestants Aid promised against the Turks The Emperors complaint against the Duke of Cleve French Ambassador's to the Turk slain A Complaint thereof made by the French King to the Emperor Francis of Lorrain married to the Dowager of Sforza Buda besieged by King Ferdinand Who received a great Overthrow By what means Buda fell into the Hands of the Turks Transilvania given to the Vayvode and his Mother The Emperors Expedition into Barbary His Fleet spoil'd and dispersed by the Storm A Plague in Germany
Beheaded The Deaths of the Duke and Duchess of Saxony The differences between him and Augustus The Strangers leave England The Princess Elizab. committed to the Tower. The Siege of Siena Sir Tho. Wiat executed A Parliament The Diet of Germany The Norimbergerr Answer to Albert. Albert goes into Saxony The Duke of Savoy dies The Edict of King Ferdinand concerning Religion Papal Queries The French War iâ— the Low-Countries In Italy Prince Philip arrives in England Naples Resigned The Diet of ankfurt The French King's Letter to this Diet. Milan resigned to King Philip A Parliament in England †The Attainder was reversed the 22th of November England reconciled to the See of Rome The Emperor's Letter to the States of Germany Ferdinand comes to Ausburg 1555. The Parliament of England dissolved Five burnt in England The Diet opened in Germany A National Council of Germany long disused The Effect of this Speech April 10. 1556. England submits to the Court of Rome 1556. †Atrocia Blasseburg ruined Ferdinand invites the Princes to the Diet. The Protestâ—ne Ministers Comfort the banished Bohemians The French War in Piâ—dmont The Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg and other Princes League together The Letter of these Princes to the Emperor The Elector of Mentz dies Julius III. dies Siena taken by the Emperor's Forces Marceilus II. dies Paul the IV. Elected Cardinal Pool's Letter for a Peace †In 1521. * In 1522. Queen Mary mediates between the Emperor and King of France The Letter of the German Princes to the Emperor His Answer The Persecution in England An Insurrection in Geneva The Turks Fleet. Porto Ercole taken Catzenellobâ—gen The English Ambassadors Return from Rome The Danish Navy †1549. Latimer and Ridley burnt at Oxford †I suppose our Author was mis-informed as to this Particular The Parliament of Paris Answer to the King's Edict Caâ—zenellobogen The Low Countries resigned by the Emperor to King Philip. The Diet of Germany †In 1548. The Allegations of the Roman-Catholicks A Virulent Paper put in by the Roman-Catholicks against the Protestants Liberty of Conscience contrary to Catholick Religion The Protestants Answer Rom. 1. The Answer of King Ferdinand The form of the Recess prâ—posed Ferdinand's Answer to the Papers The Protestants Reply Ferdinand's Answer to the Protestants The Decree then made A Parliament begun the 21st of October in England The Pope requires the restitution of Abby-Lands Bishop Gardiner Dies †A suppression of his Urin. A Duke of Venice deposed King Philip and Ferdinand send Ambassadors to the Princes of Germany King Philip entereth upon the Government of the Netherlands The Address of the States of the Lower Austria for Liberty of Conscience King Ferdinand's Answer The States of the Lower Austria reply English affairs †The 12th of September Cranmer Burnt The Subjects of Bavaria petition for Liberty of Conscience Transylvania revolts The Cardinal of Ausburg's Apology for himself The Marquess of Baden embraceth the Augustan Confession Peter Martyr goes to Zurich * The cause by them alledged was That Ferdinand contrary to his promise had put Spanish Souldiers into their Towns which ruin'd their Country Thuan. †The Inhabitants and Garrison finding the Castle too little to be defended made a sudden Sally and recovered the Town the 23d of July the Turks were forced with great loss and shame to draw off * Which was then said to be much debased and corrupted to the damage of the People †These short Accounts seem added by another hand after the Author was dead if not that of the Emperour's Journey The Introduction The Revolt of Transylvania Sigeth besieged and most bravely defended by the Germans The Situation of Sigeth Babotz besieged The Character of Haly the Turks General Gran surprized by Scalado Charles V resigns the Netherlands and Spain to his Son. And the Empire to his Brother Ferdinand The Emperour's Ambassadours to the Electoral Princes The Emperour sets sail for Spain His Speech at his landing The description of the Place in which he lived Thuanus John Sleidan's Death and Character Natura iracundus pene implacabilis Natalis Comes Paul IV a furious Hare-brained Prince He annexes the Kingdom of Naples to the See of Rome The Duke de Alva begins a a War upon the Papacy Anagni taken Rome prepared for a Siege The Seige of Ostia 1557. The French Affairs Valenza taken Ostia retaken by the Pope The War in Italy under the Duke of Guise The Duke de Alva takes the Field Segni taken by the Spaniards The Duke of Guise recall'd A Peace between King Philip and the Pope * Caviiâ— The Affairs of England Ferrara rescued from Ruine by the Duke of Florence The Dyet of Ratisbonne A Remonstrance of the Protestant Princes Albert Marquis of Brandenburg dies The County of Catzenellobogen setled by Agreement The Conference at Wormes The War between France and Spain Queen Mary joyns with Spain The Siege of St. Quintin The Battel of St. Quintin Montmorancy ruin'd by being taken Prisoner The Day of the Battel St. Quintin taken by Storm A Letter of Charles V to his Son Philip. The French Army grows great A Persecution in France The misrepresentations of the Roman Catholicks against the Protestants The Siege of Calais 1558. The Site of Calais Guines taken A Turkish Fleet land in several Places of Italy and carry many into Slavery The Dauphine married to Mary Queen of Scotland The first Proposals of a Peace between France and King Philip. Andelot Marshal of France ruined by the Arts of the Guises Thionville besieged and taken The Defeat of Thermes near Graveling Dunkirk surprized And Vinoxberg The English Fleet unsuccessful The Treaty of Cambray began The Parliament of England meet and Queen Mary dies The German Affairs * That is the Ecclesiastical and Civil Government The Death and Character of Charles the Fifth His Opinion concerning Justification Queen Elizabeth succeeds The Scotch Affairs Scotland begins to entertain the Reformation 1559. The Death of Frederick I King of Denmark Christian II King of Denmark dies Frederick II conquereth Dieâ—marsh The Affairs of Italy New Bishopricks erected in the Low-Countries King Philip desirous of a Peace with France that he might be at leisure to extirpate Heresie That Design discover'd to the Prince of Orange The Dyet of Germany Conditions proposed by the Protestants for a Council The Emperor Confirms the Peace of Passaw The French Embassadors come to the Dyet The Life and Death of David George a famous Impostor The Treaty of Cambray produces a Peace at last The Peace occasions a Persecution in France The King goes to the Parliament of Paris to aw it into a Compliance Yet some retained their Freedom at the Price of their Lives The King's Answer A French Synod held by the Protestant Ministers The Protestant Princes of Germany write to the King of France A Commission issued to try the suspected Members of Parliament Du Bourg first tried The sad Condition of France during the Persecution Henry
condemned all those who presumed to act contrary to this Decree and declared their Appeals invalid And not long after he Excommunicated Sigismund Duke of Austria for taking Cardinal Nicholas Cusanus Prisoner Sigismund Appeals from him to the Council and the Pope Excommunicates George Heinburg a Lawyer that drew up the Appeal as a Traytor and Heretick and writes to the Senate of Nuremberg to Banish him and Confiscate his Estate This Decree of his Julius II confirmed that he might defend himself against those Cardinals who had revolted from him against Kings and Princes and the Divines of Paris who often made use of such Appeals Pope Pius who was before called Aeneas Silvius was present at the Council of Basil and wrote the History of it wherein he highly commends the Decrees that were made there but at last being advanced to the Papacy he changed his Opinion and declared that the Council ought to be subject to the Pope Luther when he found himself condemned at Rome renews his former Appeal from the Pope to General Council And now since the Pope continues in his Tyranny and Impiety and proceeds so far as to condemn him neither called nor heard nor convict of Heresie he says he Appeals again from him to a General Council for these four Reasons Because he condemns him at pleasure without hearing the Controversie because he forbids him to hold Faith to be necessary in the Sacraments because he prefers his own Opinions and Fancies to the Holy Scriptures and for rendring all Councils useless Therefore he calls him rash and obstinate a Tyrant a proud Despiser of the Church and Antichrist himself and says he will prove all this whensoever it shall please his Superiors and for that reason desires the Emperour and other Magistrates that for the Glory of God and in defence of the Liberties of a General Council they would admit his Appeal that they would bridle the Tyranny of the Pope take no notice of his Bull nor do any thing in the business till the Cause be fairly heard and decided Before he appealed after this manner which was upon the Eighteenth day of November he had put out a Book concerning the Babylonish Captivity and in the Preface he says that he advances every day more and more in the Knowledge of the Scripture that formerly he had published a small Treatise concerning the Pope's Indulgences and that then he writ very modestly having a very great Veneration for the Roman Tyranny But that now he was of another Opinion and that being stirred up by the provocation of his Adversaries he had discovered that the See of Rome was nothing else but the Kingdom of Babylon and the Power of Nimrod the mighty Hunter Afterwards he disputes concerning the Sacraments of the Church and holds there are but Three Baptism Penance and the Lord's Supper And having discoursed concerning these he proceeds to consider the others also Confirmation Orders Matrimony and Extreme Vnction but he allows them not the Name or Title of a Sacrament and says that they are properly Sacraments which are Promises with Visible Signs annexed to them the others which have no Signs are bare Promises and therefore he thinks that Penance ought not to be reckoned in the number of Sacraments if we would speak properly because it wants a Visible Sign of Divine Institution Luther after he had heard of the Pope's Bull besides the Appeal we have been speaking of publishes a Book wherein he confirms and maintains all those opinions which Leo had condemned In the mean time the Emperour having setled all things in the Low-Countries appoints the Electors to meet him at Aix la Chapelle on the Sixth of October in order to his Coronation But at that time the Plague raged there very much therefore the Electors when they were arrived at Cologn about ten Miles from Aix la Chapelle and the report of the Plague encreased daily they writ to the Emperour being then at Louvain to desire him to chuse some other place for the Coronation But the Townsmen who had laid out a great deal of Money in trimming up their Houses and furnishing themselves with Provisions did by a proper Messenger assure him that there was no Danger The Emperour therefore persisted in his Resolution and declares That he cannot well alter the Order of Charles IV which appoints the Coronation to be there Therefore upon the 21 of October the Archbishops of Mentz Cologn and Triers with the Ambassadours of the Duke of Saxony and Marquess of Brandenburg arrive there for the Duke of Saxony himself by reason of his Ilness was forced to stay at Cologn The next Day they go out to meet the Emperour and when they came near him they alighted off their Horses and the Archbishop of Mentz made a Speech to him which he answered graciously by the Cardinal of Saltzburg And so joyning their Company together they marched towards the Town Before the Gate the Count Palatine meets him The Horse that accompanied the Electors were about a thousand six hundred some Archers and some with Lances those that attended upon the Emperour were about two thousand all bravely clothed John Duke of Cleve being a Neighbour had brought thither four hundred Horse very well armed who contended so long with those of Saxony about the Precedency that Night came on them before the whole Cavalcade which was the finest that ever was seen in Germany could enter the Town On each side the Emperour rode the Archbishops of Cologn and Mentz being followed by the Ambassadour of the King of Bohemia the Cardinals of Sedune Saltzburg and Croye and the Ambassadours of other Kings and Princes the Pope's only and the King 's of England were absent and that designedly lest by giving place to the Princes of Germany they might seem to diminish the Honour of their Masters The Emperour was brought into our Lady's Church where after he had made his Prayers he talked with the Electors apart and so went to his Lodging The next Day they met again at the Church but there was such a Croud of People that the Guard had much ado to keep them back In the middle of the Church there hangs a large Crown the Floor underneath was covered with rich Carpets where the Emperour for some time lay prostrate while the Archbishop of Cologn says certain Prayers over him After that is done he Archbishop of Mentz and Triers take him up and lead him to the High Altar Here he falls down again and having said his Prayers is lead to his Throne that was richly overlaid with Gold the Archbishop of Cologn begins Mass and having proceeded a little way he demands of him in Latin Whether he will keep the Catholick Faith defend the Church administer Justice and maintain the Dignity of the Empire protect the Widows and the Fatherless and such other distressed Persons and whether he will give due Honour to the Bishop of Rome When he has assented
to uphold and establish their own Tyranny He quoted about thirty of these places by which he shewed That he had just and sufficient Reasons to burn their Books Then he challenges them to produce but one good Reason to justifie their burning his Works But that so few or none had for some Ages past opposed the Power of Antichrist he says Therefore came to pass because the Scripture had foretold That he should vanquish all his Adversaries and be strengthened by the Alliance of Kings Since then the Prophets and Apostles have predicted such dreadful things one cannot but form to himself a very frightful Idea of his Cruelty That the Constitution of Sublunary things was such that out of the best Beginnings sometimes did arise the greatest Corruptions when he had proved this by some Examples he applies it to the City of Rome which being loaded with all the greatest Blessings of Heaven had wholly degenerated from what it was formerly and with its Poysonous Contagion infected a great part of the World That this Ordinance of the Popes was contrary to Law and all received Customs nor were the Usurpations of that Bishop any longer to be endured since he declined a fair Tryal and would not be bound up by any Decree or Judgment whatsoever In the former Book we told you how Silvester Prierias had wrote against Luther When this had been answered by him very sharply Ambrose Catarine an Italian took up the Cudgels and published a Book in Defence of the Pope's Supremacy To this Luther answers very fully and having expounded some places in Daniel he teaches That the Papal Tyranny was there painted out and that what he has foretold of the Kingdom of Antichrist was only truly applicable to the See of Rome This Catarine was afterwards made Archbishop of Cosenza THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK III. The CONTENTS The Emperour is prevailed with by Duke Frederick to write to Luther who relying upon his Majesty's Letter as upon a safe Conduct comes to Wormes there he undauntedly justified what he had written or taught in presence of the Emperour and a great Assembly of the Princes and constantly persevered therein though he was Curs'd and Excommunicated by the Pope in his Bull de Coena Domini threatned with Banishment by the Emperour and tamper'd with by the Princes severally to make him recant his Opinions The Council of Constance is proposed unto him from whence taking occasion he speaks of Wickliff John Huss and John Zischa a Bohemian The Divines of Paris condemn Luther's Books While a League is making betwixt the French King and the Swisse Zuinglius dissuades them from taking Pay or Pensions from any Prince to serve them in their Wars Luther being Outlawed by the Emperour's Proclamation retreats into a more private place The King of England also writes against him Pope Leo X dies and Adrian succeeds him Solyman the Magnificent is prosperous in Hungary The Emperour endeavours to suppress Seditions in Spain and makes a League with the King of England The Bishop of Constance Presecutes Zuinglius Troubles at Wittemberg The Anabaptists rise which gave occasion to the Diet of Norimberg Thither Pope Adrian sent his Brief and Legate Solyman takes Rhodes Zuinglius having set forth the Heads of his Doctrin is attack'd by the Papists but at length the Reformed Religion is received at Zurich WHile Duke Frederick waited upon the Emperour to the Diet of Wormes he procured a Promise of him that he would send for Luther and give him a publick Hearing Luther being informed of this by Letters from Duke Frederick towards the latter end of January wrote back an Answer expressing the great Satisfaction he had that the Emperour would be pleased to take the Cognizance of that Cause which was indeed a publick concern to himself and that for his part he would do all that he could with a safe Conscience and without prejudice to the Reformed Religion Wherefore he entreated the Prince that he would endeavour to obtain a safe Conduct for him that his Person might not be in danger That good and learned Men might be chosen with whom he should Dispute That he might not be condemned before he were convicted of Errour and Impiety That in the mean time his Adversaries might desist from that rage of theirs and not burn his Writings And that if for the future he should attempt any thing else for the glory of God and the discovery of Truth he might have the Emperour's leave to do it That so soon as the Emperour gave him a safe Conduct he would nt fail to come to Wormes and there so maintain his Cause before impartial Judges that all Men should be convinced that he had done nothing frowardly but all for the good of Christendom and chiefly that for the welfare of Germany he had been at this labour and pains in endeavouring to reclaim his Countrymen from many and most gross Errours to the purity of the Gospel and true Religion He moreover prayed that the Emperour and he would seriously reflect upon that dreadful bondage and miserable condition wherewith Christendom was oppressed by the Roman Papacy Wherefore the Emperour being sollicited by Duke Frederick wrote to Luther March the Sixth That since some Books had been published by him he had consulted with the Princes and was resolved to hear from himself Personally what he had to say That therefore he granted him free liberty to come and appear before him and afterwards to return home which that he might safely do he had engaged the Publick Faith as more fully appeared in the safe Conduct sent with his Letter He therefore commanded him forthwith to set out upon his Journey and not fail to be present in the space of One and twenty days That he should not fear any violence or injury for that he would take care that he should not suffer the least prejudice It hath been an old Custom with the Popes of Rome solemnly to Curse and Excommunicate some sorts of Men on Thursday in the Passion Week As first Hereticks next Pyrates then those who impose new Toll and Customs or exact such as are prohibited those who Falsifie or Counterfeit the Bulls and publick Instruments of the Court of Rome who supply the Turks and Saracens with Arms and other Counterband Goods who hinder the Importation of Corn to Rome who offer violence to any that follow and attend the Court of Rome who invade or damnifie the Possessions of the Church of Rome or Places thereunto adjoyning as namely the City of Rome Sicily Naples Sardinia Corsica Tuscany Spoleto Sabina Aucona Flaminia Campania Bolonia Ferrara Benevento Perugia and Avignon Some former Popes among Hereticks named the Garasians Pateronians the Poor Men of Lyons the Arnoldists Speronists Wicliffites Hussites and Fratricelli But Leo X this year clapt Luther and his Followers in with the rest and solemnly Curs'd them on Holy-Thursday This Bull is commonly called
that the One and twenty days which he had allowed him to return in being expired every one should endeavour to apprehend him and bring him into lawful Custody Banishing in the same manner all that should any ways aid or assist him He ordered all his Books also to be destroyed appointing a severe Penalty for Stationers that should meddle with them for the future And this Decree which he said was made with the common Consent and Advice of the Princes and States he commanded to be inviolably observed by all It was said that there were but a few who had a hand in framing this Decree For some of the Electors acknowledged that they were not privy to it as shall be said of the Elector of Cologn in its proper place The Elector of Mentz who is Chancellor of the Empire had a great stroak in Matters of that nature However it be the Emperor by this Sentence procured to himself much Favour so that the Pope fell quite off from the Frienship of France and made a League with him as you shall hear by and by After the Publication of this Sentence Duke Frederick appointed some Gentlemen in whom he could most confide to convey Luther into some more private place remote from the concourse of People that so he might be out of danger and this was performed with great secrecy and diligence In this his Retirement he wrote several Letters to his Friends and some Books also as one for abolishing private Mass which he dedicated to his Brethren the Augustine Friers Another concerning Monastick Vows dedicated to his Father John Luther and one against James Latome a Divine of Lovain He exhorted the Augustines to Courage and Constancy telling them that they had a strong support in Duke Frederick who was a wise Prince a lover of Truth and most averse from rash Judging They of all others were the first that began to leave off saying of Mass and therefore it was that Luther composed for them the Book we now mentioned that he might both encourage the weak and confirm the strong earnestly exhorting them to persevere in that purpose Duke Frederick hearing of this and fearing that some great disturbance might thereupon ensue commanded that the Opinion of the whole University should be taken about the matter and brought to him For that purpose the University chose four of their Members Justus Jonas Philip Melancthon Nicholas Amstorff and John Dulce These having had a Conference with the Augustines made a report of what their resolution was and at the same time declared how great injury was done to the Lord's Supper Wherefore they prayed the Duke that he would abolish that great Impiety not in one Church only but in all places also and restore the true use of the Lord's Supper according to the Institution of Christ and the Practice of his Apostles without regard to the Reproaches and Calumnies of Gain-sayers For that it was the course of this World that he who would undertake the defence of the true Doctrin of the Gospel must suffer many things That he ought to make it his chief study reverently to acknowledg that singular Mercy wherewith God had now blest him in making the Light of the Gospel to shine among the People To these things Duke Frederick made Answer That he would omit nothing that might conduce to the propagating of Piety but that since the matter was very difficult he did not think it fit to make too much haste and that hardly any thing could be effected by them who were so few in number But that if the Matter were grounded on Scripture many would certainly come over to them and then such a change as might seem to be pious and necessary would more conveniently be brought about That for his own part who was ignorant of the Scripture he could not tell when that accustomed Rite of the Mass which they condemned was first introduced into the Church and when that which the Apostles are said to have followed was left off That all Churches generally and Colleges wer founded for the Mass being endowed for that end with great Revenues so that should Mass be now abolish'd the Goods and Lands heretofore given for that use would be taken from the right Possessors That any Man might see what disturbance and confusion that would breed And that since they had referred the whole Affair to him it was his advice to them That having consulted the rest of the good and learned Men of the University they would proceed in the matter moderately and devise with themselves such means as might be proper for keeping Peace and Piety among them The Commissioners having consulted together made their Reply and again advise him to abrogate the Mass alledging that it might be done without Tumult and that though it could not yet that which was just and good ought not therefore to be omitted That their being fewer in number was no new thing since that from the beginning of the World the greatest part of Mankind had always opposed the true Religion That none would accept and approve the right way of administring and receiving the Lord's Supper but they to whom it should be given from above That Colleges were founded of old not for Mass but for the pious Education of Youth and these Possessions given for the Maintenance of the Masters and Scholars and for the Use of the Poor which Custom had lasted almost to the time of St. Bernard but that about Four hundred years since this trafficking about Masses came in play which now ought to be utterly abolished That though it were of ancient date yet such a Profanation was not to be tolerated And that if Stirs and Commotions should arise from thence it was not to be imputed to the Religion but to the Wickedness of the Adversaries who for Gain sake withstand the Truth against their own Conscience That however Men ought not to regard such inconveniences but to proceed absolutely whatever Tumults the World might raise for that all these things had been long ago foretold by Christ This year the Emperor's Brother Ferdinand Archduke of Austria married the Lady Ann Sister to Lewis King of Hungary Among so many Adversaries as Luther had Henry VIII King of England opposed him also in Writing and in the first place refuted his Opinion about Indulgences and defended the Papacy Afterwards he censured all his Disputations concerning the Sacraments of the Church taking occasion of writing from the Book of the Captivity of Babylon When this came to Luther's knowledge he wrote a most bitter Answer declaring That in defence of this Cause he valued no Man's Honour nor Greatness However Pope Leo gave the King an honourable Title for this calling him Defender of the Faith. How Charles of Austria came to be chosen Emperor hath be shewn before But some private Quarrels happening afterwards betwixt Him and the French King it came to a War at last though
first on the Frontiers of Spain and in Flanders The French held at that time Parma and Piacenza in Italy which Pope Leo was much troubled at But when more lately they had attempted Regio he fell quite off from them and made a League with the Emperour whereof the chief Conditions were That the Dignity of the Church of Rome should be defended That what the French had lately taken from it should be recovered That Francis Sforza who was then a banished Man should be restored to his Inheritance and the Dukedom of Milan Having therefore joyned their Forces under the Command of Prospero Colonna and Ferdinand d'Aval Marquess of Pesoara they recovered Parma and Piacenza from the French took the City of Milan and beat the Enemy quite out of Lombardy after they had been six whole years Masters of it Not long after Pope Leo had the News of this Overthrough he Died not without the Suspicion of Poyson He was the Son of Laurence de Medices and had to his Great-Grandfather Cosmo who raised that Family to its Splendour At Thirteen years of age Leo was made Cardinal by Innocent VIII He lived not above Seven and forty years and had for Successor Adrian VI a Hollander who had been the Emperor's Tutor LEO X. PAPA ANTEA IOANNES MEDICES FLORENTINVS Natus Ao. 1474. XIII An Adolescens Alectus fuit in Ordinem Cardinalium Electus XIo Martij Ano. 1513. Obijt 1o. Decemb 1521. Sedit An. 8 Men. 8. D. 21 While the Emperor spent his time in Germany and the Netherlands there happened great Seditions in Spain Therefore to prevent the growing evil in time having first setled a Council and Supreme Court of Judicature to administer Justice and in his absence to order the Affairs of the Empire he returned into Spain by Sea But before his departure the States of the Empire had met at Norimberg among other things to consult about the Turkish War and the Emperor having emitted a Proclamation towards the end of March enjoyned chiefly the Church-men to pray to God say Masses and make Processions for the Publick Safety and for atoning the Sins of Men. Now the grand result of this Diet was that on the First of May after they granted Aid to King Lewis against the Turk The Emperor upon his return home visited once more the King of England and to secure him for a firm Friend against the French King he promised to pay him yearly an Hundred and Thirty three Thousand Ducats For the French King by Agreement paid so much yearly to the King of England and his Sister Mary Queen Dowager of France so that unless he might be saved harmless the King of England would attempt nothing against him This Treaty was concluded betwixt them June the Thirteenth at Windsor For a greater Confirmation of their Friendship also it was agreed that the Emperor should Marry his own Cousin-german Mary the King of England's Daughter a young Lady then of Seven years of age when she should come to Maturity And that he who failed in performance of this should pay the other Four hundred thousand Crowns In the mean time the French King bends all his Force to the recovery of what he had lost in Italy Of Zuinglius you have heard before Now Hugh Bishop of Constance to whose Spiritual Jurisdiction Zurich belonged addressed himself to the Senate acquainting them with what Complaints he heard of Zuinglius who had started a new kind of Religion But Zuinglius being called before the Senate defended his own Cause and satisfied them Afterwards the Bishop wrote to the College of Canons of whom Zuinglius was one and having said many things of new Teachers who disturbed the Peace of the Church he entreats them to take heed and beware of such And because Pope Leo and then the Emperor had by most severe Bulls and Decrees condemned that Doctrin he admonishes them to obey the same and not to make any Changes or Innovations till they whom it concerned should by common advice and consent determin what was to be done This was in the Month of May. After this Letter had been read in the Convocation Zuinglius against whom it was written wrote an Answer to the Bishop That he knew very well who they were that put him upon these things and advised him not to follow their Counsels for that Truth was invincible and could not be resisted But he wrote a longer Letter afterwards to those whom he supposed to be the Authors of that Epistle After this Zuinglius and some others there joyned with him wrote a Letter to the Bishop wherein they prayed him not to act any thing against the Doctrin of the Gospel nor to suffer any longer that filthy and scandalous life of the Priests but allow them Marriage To the same purpose Zuinglius wrote to all the Switzers and counselled them not to obstruct the course of the Reformed Religion nor any ways molest the Married Priests for that the Devil was the Author of that single Life of theirs That it was a Custom in some of their own Cantons when they received any new Curate to enjoyn him to keep a Concubine lest he should attempt upon the Chastity of other Mens Wives That the Custom was laugh'd at by many but that it was prudently established at that time and in that darkness and depravation of Religion And that what they did then as to Concubines ought now to be put in practice as to lawful Wives Luther in the mean time having absconded as we said for some Months returned to Wittemberg and because he had not been recalled by Duke Frederick fearing that he might take it ill at his hands he wrote to him in the Month of March assuring him that it was out of no Ill-will or Contempt of his Authority that he was returned without his Command That he was sensible enough some would not fail to represent it as a dangerous thing to his Highness in regard that he stood Outlawed and Condemned both by the Pope and Emperor whose Power was not to be slighted That he had indeed seriously reflected on these things before hand but that for three chief Reasons he had been moved to do what he did First That he had been earnestly solicited by several Letters from the Church of Wittemberg to turn and that they were a People whom God had committed to his Charge and therefore could not be neglected That many without doubt spoke bitterly and reproachfully against this Reformation of Religion but that he was certainly convinced that this his Profession was most acceptable unto God That in the next place through the craft and subtilty of the Devil who could not endure this Light of the Gospel many troubles in his absence had been raised in his Church which unless he were there to teach them in Person could not be composed And that that was to him so weighty a Cause that it
we mentioned came to Norimberg and January 1 sent from thence the Pope's Letters we spoke of to the Senate of Strasburg offering his Service if they pleased to write him an Answer Zuinglius began now to give great Offence and whilst many both within and without the City preached against his Doctrin as Impious and Erroneous but especially the Dominican Fryers and that he justified the same offering to prove it to be consonant to the Holy Scriptures the Senate of Zurich called a Convocation of all the Clergy within their Jurisdiction to meet at Zurich January 29 about the Difference in Religion where all men should be heard as much as was Requisite They invited also the Bishop of Constance by Letters either to come himself or send one in his Place So then a numerous Assembly met at the Day appointed and among others John Faber whom the Bishop sent to represent him to whom the Burgomaster of the Town made a Speech to this Effect That because there was a great Dissension arisen about Religion the present Assembly had been called That if any man had ought to say against the Doctrin of Zuinlius he might freely propound the same Now Zuinlius had before comprized his Doctrin into certain Heads and common places to the number of sixty seven Articles and had published them to the end that all might come prepared to Argue and Dispute the Matter openly in the Assembly Wherefore when now the Burgomaster had done speaking he again propounded them and invited them to fall to the Dispute With that Faber having declared the Cause of his being sent endeavoured to persuade them That that was a Debate not proper for such a Place and that it belonged to a General Council which was shortly to be called But Zuinglius urging him to Dispute and if he had any thing to say not to dissemble it He made answer That he would refute his Doctrin in Writing Thus they two having exchanged many Words and no Body else appearing to take up the Cudgels the Senate dissolved the Assembly and proclaimed throughout their Territories That the Traditions of Men being laid aside the Gospel should be purely taught from the Books of the Old and New Testament THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK IV. The CONTENTS Pope Adrian by his Legate propounded several things confessing that now for many Years there had been various and grievous Corruptions in the Court of Rome The Princes of Germany answer him and declare upon what Conditions they would have a Council An alteration of Affairs in Denmark King Christiern flyeth The Imposts of Germany First-Fruits and Vacances are treated of Mention is made of the Pall of Archbishops Two Augustine Fryers are burnt at Brussels Luther interprets the Decree made at Norimberg He publishes some Books The King of England makes a heavy complaint of Luther Pope Adrian dies to whom Clement succeeds Troubles arise in Switzerland about the Doctrin of Zuinglius and at Strasburg about the Marriage of Priests Campegius is sent by Pope Clement Legate to the Dyet of Norimberg where he writes to Duke Frederick and then exhorts the Princes in a Speech he made to them To which they answer and he again replies thereunto The Switzers expostulate with those of Zurich who answer the Ambassadours of the other Cantons The Bishop of Constance's Book in defence of Images Which nevertheless are thrown down and burnt throughout all the Canton of Zurich The Emperour sends an Ambassadour to the Dyet of Norimberg The Senate and Bishop of Strasburg bring their Controversie before Cardinal Campegius After the Dyet is over Ferdinand and others make a League against the Reformation BEsides the Letters we mentioned Pope Adrian gave his Legates Instructions in Writing that he should signifie to the Princes How much he was grieved at the Troubles and Seditions which were occasioned by Luther not only because of the Damage that thereby accrued to mens Souls and the Ruine and Dissipation of the Flock which Christ had committed to his keeping but also because such a mischievous thing should have happened among that Nation and People from whom he derived his Birth and Being and who had always been a People free from the very least Suspicion of Heresie That therefore it was his most earnest Desire That some speedy Remedy might forthwith be applyed to the Evil lest by longer Delay the same thing might happen to the Germans which heretofore befel the Bohemians That for his own part he would spare neither Pains nor Charges in that Affair That therefore he besought them that according to their several Abilities they would do the same there being many and weighty Reasons for their so doing as the Glory and Honour of God which was chiefly violated by that Heresie all the Ceremonies and Rites of the Church being thereby not only impaired but in a manner quite abolished Charity and Brotherly Love since he that directed not him into the right way who was gone astray must be accountable to God for his Omission The Shame and Disgrace of the Nation since Germany which was wont to be chiefly praised for Religion was now by reason of that Defection fallen into Contempt and Ignominy Their own Fame and Reputation for since they might easily make an End both of Luther and of his Heresies if they did it not they would seem to be very sickle and inconstant and to degenerate from their Ancestors who left behind them at Constance a noble Instance of their Virtue and was it not a most heinous Injury that he did both to themselves and their Fore-fathers for since these followed the Religion of the Roman Catholick Church they were in his Judgment who condemned that Religion all debarred from Salvation That they should consider and weigh with themselves what the Purpose of these Men was and what their Doctrin drove at Which was nothing else than under a Colour of Christian Liberty to endeavour the Subversion of all Laws and all Respect and Obedience to Magistrates and that though Luther seemed at first only to impugn the Ecclesiastical Power as Impious and Tyrannical yet it was his Drift that having once persuaded People That Christians were by no Laws obliged to obey the Magistrate he might open a way for all Men to break out into what extravagant Courses they pleased And that therefore they themselves lay thereby exposed to great Dangers That as yet indeed they cunningly and craftily disguised their Purpose flattering the Magistrate That with impunity they might be suffered to wreak their Spleen and Malice upon the Church-men But that these being once oppressed without doubt they would try their Fortune also with the rest That they themselves now plainly saw and felt by Experience the Animosities Hatred Quarrels and Troubles which that Heresie had already occasioned in the State and it was to be feared That if these Evils were not timely repressed God who had given them the Power of the Sword
grievous and scandalous Crimes That they nevertheless who were satisfied with the Punishment enjoyned by the Canon Law were much to be recommended for that Moderation but that they who clapt up in Prison and in Chains Rack'd Tormented and put Priests to Death for contracting Marriage or forsaking their Order were greatly to be detested Wherefore he besought the Princes that seeing their Adversaries did not obey the Decree they had made but boldly and licentiously opposed it they would also pardon those who through frailty of Nature that they might not wound their own Consciences or run into manifest Sin should not exactly observe that last Clause of the same for that it was very unreasonable that their potent Adversaries should have liberty to violate those things which they ought and might most easily observe and that other poor Men should be punished for transgressing a Law which it was not in their power to observe since all had not the Gift of Continence and that Vows of Chastity were not only foolish but contrary also to good Manners and honest living Afterwards he published a Book at the desire of some about the Ordaining of Ministers and dedicated it to the Magistrates of Prague to which he annexed a Treatise wherein he proved that the Church had the Right and Power of judging all Doctrins and of appointing Ministers In the first place he defined the Church to be where-ever the purity of the Gospel was taught but that Bishops and such other Prelates were Images and Heads without Brains that none of them did their duty in any Nation or among any People and especially in Germany Not long after he wrote about avoiding the Doctrins of Men affirming nevertheless in the Preface to his Book that he did not at all justifie those who boldly despised all Human Laws and Traditions and in the mean time did nothing that belonged to the duty of a true Christian Afterwards he prescribed a Form how Mass and the Communion should be celebrated in the Church of Wittemberg saying That hitherto he had proceeded leisurely because of the infirmity of many and being satisfied only with Doctrin had made it his aim to root out Errours and pernicious Opinions of Mens minds But that now when many were confirmed it was time not to suffer ungodly Rites and Ceremonies any longer in the Church but that the purity of Doctrin should be accompanied with sincerity of Worship without Hypocrisie or Superstition To this Piece he subjoyned another Treatise concerning decent and pious Ceremonies to be observed in the Church and another of the Abomination of Private Mass which they call the Canon in the Preface to which he mentions how that in his Books and Sermons having often exhorted Men to the Abrogation of the Popish Mass he had been therefore called Seditious but that it was an injury done unto him for that he had never taught the People publickly to abolish false Worship by their own authority nor had he indeed allowed that to the Magistrate unless the Rulers of the Church should obstinately maintain Errours and because that was a horrid Profanation of the Lord's Supper as the more learned now acknowledged he had therefore been at the pains to write that Piece that the People might also understand and that they might avoid those usual Sacrifices of the Mass as they would the Devil himself and to confirm what he said he set down the whole Canon of the Mass and shewed it to be full of Blasphemies against God. Among the other learmed Men of Germany that favoured Luther Vlrick Hutton a Nobleman of Franconia was one who about the latter end of August this year died in the Territory of Zurich There are some Pieces of his extant which shew him to have been a Man of an excellent and sharp Wit. In the former Book we mentioned how Luther answered Henry King of England which when the King had read he wrote to the Princes of the House of Saxony Duke Frederick his Brother John and to his Cousin George and having made a heavy complaint of Luther he represented to them the great dangers that his Doctrin was like to bring upon them and all Germany and that they were not to be slighted and neglected for that the prodigious success of the Turks whose Cruelty spread now so far owed its Rise to one or two profligate Wretches and that the neighbouring Bohemia was a warning unto them how much it concerned them to prevent an Evil in the beginning He also admonished them not to suffer Luther to publish the New Testament in the Vulgar Tongue for that his Artifices were now so well known that there was no doubt to be made but that by a bad Translation he would corrupt and pervert the purest Orignals To that Letter Duke George wrote a very kind Answer bitterly inveighing against Luther also whose Books he said as the most pernicious of Enemies he had prohibited in all his Territories for that ever since he had allowed him to Dispute at Leipsick he well perceived what he would come to at last That it heartily grieved him also that he had writ so bitterly against his Majesty which Libel he had prohibited to be Sold or Read within his Dominion having punished the Bookseller who first brought the Copy of it into his Country In the former Diet of Norimberg besides Matters of Religion the Princes took also into deliberation how they might settle Peace and establish Judicatures what Punishments were to be inflicted on those who obeyed not the Laws of the Empire and how they might raise present and constant Aids against the Turk But as to these two last Points nothing could be concluded wherefore they were put off to another time and Diet And because some things were enacted in that Diet which the Cities of the Empire perceived would redound to their prejudice they all sent Embassadors upon that account to the Emperor in Spain These arriving at Valladolid August the Sixth and having Audience three days after the Emperor gave them a very Gracious and Princely Answer within a few days but withal told them That the Pope had complained to him by Letters of Strasburg Norimber and Ausburg as if they favoured the Doctrin of Luther That he expected better things of them but that however he could not pass it by in silence that they might have a care to obey his and the Pope's Edicts which he was consident they would do They justified themselves assuring his Majesty that their Cities were no ways wanting in readiness to fulfil his Will and Pleasure In the mean time September the Thirteenth Pope Adrian dies to whom succeeded Clement VII of the Family of Medices Of all the Switzers none but the People of Zurich followed the Doctrin of Zuinglius most of the other Cantons vexed and murmured at it And therefore in a Convention of States held for that purpose at Berne there were some who grievously accused Zuinglius and to
him delivered unto his Holiness which he promised to do accordingly That therefore if he had any Instructions in relation thereunto they prayed him to declare them that so they might have surer Grounds to proceed on That the Turkish Affairs were indeed such as he had described them to be which was no small Grief unto them But that that Difficult and most Important War concerned not the Empire alone but also all the Kings and Princes of Christendom for that unless they would be at Peace among themselves and contribute their Aid and Assistances no lasting Measures could be taken That nevertheless since the Turk was making vast Preparations both by Sea and Land they desired also to know his Judgment as to that matter Hereunto the Legate replyed That whether or not any Method for composing the Differences of Religion had been proposed by them or delivered to the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals he knew nothing at all of it That his Holiness was in a Disposition of doing any thing that was convenient and had given him full Power and Commission to act but that it belonged to them who knew the Men and the Customs and Condition of the Country to find out a Way that might lead to the desired End. That in the Dyet of Wormes the Emperour with their unanimous Consent had made and published a Decree which was renewed again last Year and that then it was judged convenient that it should take place all over Germany but that nevertheless some had obeyed it and some not That now he was ignorant of the Reason of that and why there should be so great a Diversity and Incongruity in the Empire That therefore it was his Opinion That before any thing should be decreed they would consider how it was to be executed That he was not come thither to blow the Coals of Strife and Dissention as some said but that all the Popes Thoughts and his tended to Unity Peace and Concord that those who had erred and gone astray might be reduced into the right way and that the Decrees of Councils and the Edicts of the Emperour and States might be observed That as to their Demands whether they were made to be sent to Rome or not he could not tell That there had been only three Copies of them brought privately to Rome whereof one had fallen into his Hands but that the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals could not be persuaded that they had been framed by the Princes but thought that some private Persons rather had published them in hatred to the Court of Rome And that he had no Instructions as to that Particular That however he was not to be so understood as if he had not full Power and Commission to act in that Affair but that there were many things in these Demands which did both derogate from the Pope's Authority and savoured also of Heresie which he could not meddle in But that for those other Matters which did not intrench upon the Pope and were grounded on Justice he did not refuse to treat of them That nevertheless he thought That what they had to say to the Pope might have been more modestly propounded That the Spaniards had lately done so who having sent Ambassadours to Rome respectfully represented their Grievances But that to Print and disperse them among the People seemed to him to be a little too much though there was no Doubt to be made but that the Pope would do any thing for the sake of Germany That his Holiness was not ignorant neither of the great Power of the Turk and of his Preparations in this time of War and thought that Peace and Concord among Christian Princes was at present absolutely necessary for effecting whereof he would use his utmost Endeavours That he had also great Summs of Money in Readiness and made it his Business to raise more which he designed wholly for this War but that it was their Part because of the Neighbourhood of Hungary to assist the young Prince who was related to them both in Blood and Affinity That the Pope would also supply him with Money and had laboured from his first Entry into the Pontificate that having made Peace betwixt the Emperour the Kings of England and France the Turkish War might be prosecuted with united Forces That as the chief Pastor he made Peace his chief Care and Study but that if the Sheep would not follow the Voice of the Shepherd he could do no more That for the same Cause he had been sent Legate into Germany and that if all the Pains he had taken must be in vain his Holiness and he both must bear it patiently and commit the whole matter to God's Providence In Switzerland the Animosities and Clashings about Religion increased daily and the rest of the Cantons by their Ambassadours made their Lamentation to those of Zurich That in times past all things were Quiet and no Contention about Religion but that now some rash hot-headeded Men had troubled that lovely Peace and Tranquility both of Church and State and sowed among them the Seeds of Discord That it had been well done to have remedied this growing Evil in the beginning and in imitation of their Ancestors vindicated the Glory and Honour of Almighty God the Virgin Mary and other Saints and therein have spent their Lives and Fortunes and that now also the State of the Times required the same chiefly at their Hands for that otherwise the Disorder would bring upon them all unavoidable Ruine besides the Loss of their own Souls That the Fruits of Luther's new Doctrine began now sufficiently to appear That the Rable and Mobile would hardly now be restrained That they behaved themselves Insolently and Sawcily grew Stubborn and Unruly and seemed ripe for Rebellion as they had plainly enough intimated of late That the Contagion of this Evil had been conveighed to them by means of Zuinglius and Leo Jude who so taught the Word of God which ought to bring Peace and Concord with it and interpreted it according to their own Fancy that they opened all ways to Broils and Dissentions And that though they were not certain what their Doctrin was yet they had daily Experience of the Abuses which attended it That on Days prohibited by the Church Men did eat Flesh and Egs without any distinction That Priests and the Religious of both Sexes breaking their Vows forsook their Profession and Orders and married That the Service and Worship of God was wholly laid aside That there was no more Singing nor Prayers now in Churches Priests were Dishonoured Monasteries Dissolved Confession and Penance neglected so that some without any regard to these stood not in awe to come and receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper That Mass was railed at the Virgin Mary and other Saints reviled Pictures and Images pulled down torn and broken no Reverence nor Honour shewn to the Sacraments of the Church and that Licentiousness and Impurity was now grown
Campegio who had full Power and Commission from the Pope in that Affair did will and command that that Edict and the Decrees lately made in the Diet should be observed throughout all their Dominions and Jurisdictions That the Gospel and all other Scriptures should be taught in Churches according to the Interpretation of Antients who were conspicuous for purity of Life and confirmed their Doctrin by Sufferings and Martyrdom That all who taught old Heresies or any thing else that was reproachful to Christ his Mother or the Saints or which tended to Sedition should be punished according to the Tenor of the Edict That no Man should be admitted to Preach without a Licence from the Bishop That they who Preach'd already should be Examin'd and that no Place should be given to private and clandestine Sermons That the Ecclesiastical Regulations made by Campegio with common consent against Vice and for reforming of Manners when once they were published should be observed That 〈◊〉 Alterations should be made in the Sacraments Mass and other Rites of Worship but all things done as formerly in the times of their Ancestors That they who without Confession and Absolution received the Lord's Supper they who on days prohibited did eat Flesh and other forbidden Meats all Monks and Nuns who forsook their Order and all Priests Deacons and Subdeacons that Married should be severely punished That nothing should be Printed without the Magistrates leave but especially that none of the Books of Luther and his Adherents should be Published or Sold That those within their Dominions who studied at Wittemberg should within three Months after they had notice of this Decree return home or go some where else where Luther's poysonous Doctrin had not reached That they who were disobedient herein should be deprived of all their Benefices and lose their Inheritance That they who continued in that University should be incapable of any Church-Living or of the Privileges of Teaching Youth And that for the more effectual putting these things in execution some fit Men should be commissioned to make diligent enquiry into all Matters and therein assist the Governors of Places That the guilty should be committed to Prison and punished according to their Deservings That they who should be proscribed and banished should have no place of refuge within their Territories And that if any Stirs or Insurrections happened within any of their Limits by reason of this Decree that they should mutually help and assist one another but so that it should be no derogation to any League that they might have with others Moreover because as they said the vicious Lives of the Priests had given cause to Luther's Heresie by the Advice of the Legate Campegio they made these following Laws for Reformation of the Clergy That they should live Vertuously be cloathed Decently not Traffick avoid Taverns and Publick-Houses not be Covetous nor extort Money for administration of holy Things That such as kept Concubines should be turned out of Place And that the number of Holy-days should be moderated Campegio had a great mind to have had these things enacted in the Diet of the Empire but seeing he could not accomplish that by reason of the aversion that some had to Popery he held this separate Convention When Luther understood that the Emperor and most part of the Princes urged the execution of the Decree of Wormes he bewailed the state of Germany which being so often admonished neglected its own Interest He expostulated also with the Princes themselves that being so palpably and grossly cheated by the Popes of Rome they should so zealously maintain their Dignity and attempt the Destruction of him a single Man who wish'd their Welfare and Prosperity Wherefore in regard of their high Ingratitude and inexcusable Obstinacy he said there was a dreadful Tempest hanging over Germany He admonished them also not to be rash in engaging in a War or contributing Money against the Turk who in Counsel and Moderation far exceeded our Princes That while our Lives and Manners were such there was no Victory to be expected That it was a very ridiculous and absurd thing for the Emperor who could not add a minutes time to his own Life to call himself Defender of the Faith and Church That the King of England was guilty of the like boldness in taking to himself the same Title But that he prayed God to set such Magistrates over his People as might prove zealous in promoting the Glory of his Divine Majesty The Pope sent the Golden Rose which he had lately consecrated as the Custom is three Weeks before Easter to Henry King of England as a certain Pledge in token of his singular Good-will and favour towards him At this very time came forth a Treatise written by Erasmus concerning Free-will which Luther afterwards answered in a Book entituled de Servo Arbitrio or Bond-will The King of England and Cardinal of York put Erasmus upon the handling of that Subject as he himself acknowledges in a Letter to the Cardinal which is printed Now also Anthony Duke of Lorrain ordered by Proclamation That since Luther's Doctrin was condemned by the Pope and Emperour and by the most famous Universities none of his Subjects should in their Sermons teach any such Doctrin that they also who had any of Luther's Books should bring them in by a Day prefixt or otherwise incur a Penalty by him appointed This Year Henry of Zutphen was for preaching the Gospel put to a sad and painful Death at Dietmarsh upon the Borders of Germany he had gone thither upon a Call after he had preached two Yers at Bremen We told you before of a Dyet that in November was to be held at Spire but that Design was altered and when the Emperour knew of the Decree which appointed it he wrote from Spain to the States of the Empire on the thirteenth of July and blamed them very much for so doing For that since some Years before he had with the Advice and Consent of all the States in the Dyet of Wormes solemnly condemned the Doctrin of Luther as pestilent and Heretical and had commanded his Books which upon due examination had been condemned by the Pope to be burnt he could not he said but think it very strange and be troubled that they should only prohibit Scandalous Books and Pictures to be sold as if the Edict of Wormes had been illegally made That he was also somewhat more troubled that they should both desire to have a Council in Germany and also make address to the Legate Campegius to write to the Pope about it as if that did not concern the Pope or him more than them for if they thought it so much for the Interest of Germany to have a Council why did they not make their Application to him that he might obtain it from the Pope That now though he was sensible how much that Decree of theirs entrenched both upon the Pope's Authority and his own
grievously informed against him by some of that Faculty though unjustly and without a Cause That then he had appointed some great Men eminent for Learning to inspect his Books and Writings for which he stood accused But that they having carefully perused and examined them all had given him a very ample and honourable Testimony That seeing it was so and that he was had in gread Reputation by the Italians and Spaniards for the opinion they conceived of his Learning and Virtue as he hath since learnt he would therefore take it ill if that innocent Man should be molested or exposed to any Danger And seeing that if at any other time so now especially he would have Justice strictly administred throughout all his Kingdoms And again because for the future he intended by all ways to favour Men of Learning therefore he commanded them That if any Process had been commenced against them since his Departure they should make report of the fame to his Mother who managed the Government that he might be certified thereof by her and that they might expect his Will and Pleasure therein and not to proceed any farther but to supersede all Action until either he should return which he hoped by the Blessing of God would shortly be or else some Order should be taken in the matter by himself or his Mother These Letters dated at Madrid in Spain November the twelfth were delivered to the Parliament of Paris the eight and twentieth day of the same Month. It was a thing almost natural to the Divines of the past Age to teaze and molest learned Men and the reason was because they saw themselves despised for their Ignorance This Year there happened a change in the State and Government of Prusia a Province in the utmost parts of Germany upon the Baltick-Sea Let us trace the matter a little farther back During the Empire of Henry VI the Son of Frederick Barbarossa when the Christians were in War for the Recovery of Jerusalem the Knights of the German or Teutonick Order were instituted who because they fought for Religion wore a white Cross upon their Cloaths as a Badge and cognizance of their Profession This happened in the Year of our Lord eleven hundred and ninety The first Master of that Order was chosen as is reported in the Camp before Ptolemais Afterwards these Knights subdued Prusia in the time of the Emperour Frederick II And after that being grown strong they had for some time waged War with the Kings of Poland they were overcome in Battle and swore Allegiance to Casimire king of Poland the Father of King Sigismund From the first Master to Marquess Albert of Brandenburg there had been three and thirty Masters Now Albert was chosen in the Year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and eleven For the space of two Years he had a bloody War with Sigismund King of Poland and in the Year one thousand five hundred and twenty one a Truce was made for four Years In the mean time Marquess Albert often sollicited the Emperour and States of the Empire for Aid and came himself in Person to the Dyet of Norimberg We mentioned before where he took his Place as a Prince of the Empire for the cause of the War was because he refused to swear Allegiance to the King of Poland But now when the Emperour was ingaged in a War with France the Turk invaded Hungary and Germany was so embroiled by the Rebellion of the Boors that no help was to be expected from thence the Truce being likewise expired he made Peace with the King of Poland swore Allegiance to him as to his chief Magistrate and imbraced the Reformed Religion Hereupon he changed his Order challenged Prusia as his own and being before but Master was now by the King's consent inaugurated Duke of Prusia and some time after married the Lady Dorothy Daughter to the King of Denmark founding also the University of Coningsberg By this means he got the whole Order upon his Top For although he was in Possession of Prusia and under the Protection of the King of Poland yet by common consent Walter Cronberg was chosen in his place who retained the Name and represented the old Dignity of the Order and in all Dyets grievously accused Albert as you shall hear in the proper place But he having published a Manifesto gave his Reasons for what he had done and declared That being forsaken of the Empire he was driven by extream Necessity to submit himself to the King of Poland The Letters of Pope Leo X to Sigismund and Albert are extant wherein he exhorts them to Concord and either refer the Difference they had to his Legate whom he would send or submit it to the Determination of the Council of Lateran because it was most convenient that the Debates of Kings should be decided by a Council THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK VI. THE CONTENTS Luther-writes to the King of England and George Duke of Saxony to regain their favour But both reject him Now he had been put on to do so by Christiern King of Denmark The sickness of the French King who was Prisoner hastened the Treaty at Madrid The King having obtained his Liberty two of his Sons are left Hostages While the Princes of Germany meet in the Diet at Spire the Emperor of the Turks marches streight into Hungary A Disputation begun at Baden The Pope and Venetians make a League with the French King. The Emperor and King make bitter Complaints of one another Rome being taken by the Duke of Bourbon the King sends Lautreck into Italy The Errors of the Anabaptists begin to spread A Disputation appointed at Berne about Reformation of Religion A Context between King Ferdinand and the Vayvode of Transilvania Berken suffers Death at Antwerp The Emperor sends a Herald with a Challenge to the French King. Lautreck Besieges Naples but the Plague rages in his Camp. Mass is abolished at Strasburg A Dissention arises at Basil about Religion The Catholick Switzers make a League with Ferdinand A Dyet held at Spire and from thence the Name of Protestant had its Original A Civil War among the Switzers A Treaty at Cambray Solyman Besieges Vienna A new Disease breaks out in Germany The Protestants frame a League Erasmus his Book against Protestants Sforza is again received into favour with the Emperor WE gave an Account before of the King of England and Luther's clashing by Letters But Luther in the mean time having heard of some things that sounded to the King's Praise and Commendation was mightily rejoiced at the News and wrote very submissively unto him That he doubted not but that he had highly offended him by the Book he published but that he had not done it so much of his own accord as at the instigation of others which made him in confidence of his Royal Grace and Condescension so much applauded by many take the boldness to write to him
at present and the rather that he was informed his Highness was not the Author of the Book written against him but that it was the work of some busie and crafty Sophisters And here taking occasion to speak of the Cardinal of York he calls him The Plague of England He heard also he said to his great satisfaction that His Highness disliked that sort of naughty Men and applied his mind to the knowledge of the Truth Wherefore he prayed him to pardon what he had done and consider that he himself being a Mortal Man ought not to entertain Immortal Enmity That if he pleased to lay his Commands upon him he would make a publick acknowledgment of his fault and wrote another Book in Praise of his Princely Vertues Then he intreats his Highness not to listen to the Suggestions of Slanders who called him a Heretick since the summ of his Doctrin was this That we must be saved by Faith in Christ who bore the punishment of our Sins in his own Body who having died and risen again for us reigns for ever with his Father which was the Doctrin of all the Prophets and Apostles That having laid this for a Foundation he taught the Duties of Charity what we ought to do for one another how we ought to obey the Magistrate and suit our whole Life to the Profession of the Gospel That if there was any Error or Impiety in that Doctrin why did not the Adversaries make it out Why did they condemn and excommunicate him before he was heard and convicted That therefore he wrote against the Pope of Rome and his Adherents because they taught contrary to Christ and his Apostles for their own Gain and Profit that they might rule and domineer over all others and wallow in Luxury and Pleasures for that all their Thoughts and Actions tended only to this scope which was so notoriously known also that they themselves could not deny it But would they mend their Manners and not lead such a lazy and sensual life to the prejudice and loss of other Men the difference might easily be brought to an end That since a great many Princes and free Cities of Germany approved his Doctrin and thankfully acknowledged God's Blessing in it he earnestly wished His Highness might he reckoned one of that number But that the Emperor and some others made themselves his Enemies it was no new thing That David had prophesied many Ages since That Kings and People should conspire against the Lord and his anointed and cast off his Laws That for his own part when he considered such places of Scripture he wondered to see that any Prince favoured the Doctrin of the Gospel Last of all he humbly desired that His Highness would be pleased to give him a gracious Answer Not long after he wrote also to George Duke of Saxony That it was God's usual way at first to correct Men sharply and severely but afterwards tenderly to embrace and cherish them That he struck the Jews with fear and terror when he delivered the Law by Moses but afterwards sent them glad Tydings by the Preaching of the Gospel That he himself also having followed that method had dealt a little too roughly with some and with him among the rest but that in the mean while he had written some things full of Fruit and Consolation whence it might be easily perceived that he took all that pains out of no ill-will to any but that he might do good to all That he was informed however that his Grace did not at all relent in the anger and offence which he had conceived against him but was more and more exasperated daily which was the reason why now he wrote unto him That he earnestly begg'd of him he would desist from opposing his Doctrin not truly for his own sake who had nothing to lose but his Life but chiefly for his sake whose Salvation lay at stake for seeing he was certainly persuaded that his Doctrin agreed with the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles he was therefore very much concerned for his Grace who so bitterly hated and persecuted him He admonished him also not to regard the meanness of his Person for that the business was not his but the work of the Almighty God and though all Men should storm and rage yet that Doctrin would abide for ever and that therefore he was the more grieved when he saw him so incensed and offended thereat That he could not forsake this his Station but seeing he was willing to gratifie him in any thing else he humbly begg'd his Pardon for that he had said some things too sharply against him That he on other hand would pray God to forgive his Grace for his Contempt and Persecution of the Gospel and made no doubt but that his Prayers would be heard provided he would leave off in time and not endeavour to put out that Light which by God's Blessing now shone in the World for that if he went on in that way of Cruelty he would implore the assistance of God against him and then he would understand too late what it was to withstand the Majesty of Heaven That he had a firm and undoubted confidence in God's Promises and knew that his Prayer was more powerful than all the Arts and Snares of the Devil and that he always had his Refuge to it as to a most strong Castle and Rock of Defence The King of England having received Luther's Letter we mentioned before returned him a sharp Answer upbraiding him with Levity and Inconstancy He also owned his Book which he said had been very well liked of by many good and learned Men That it was no strange thing to him that he should revile the Reverend Father the Cardinal of York since he stood not in awe to reproach both Saints and Men That the Cardinal's Services were very useful both to him and the whole Kingdom also And that as he had loved him very well before he would now entertain a far greater Kindness for him since he was calumniated and accused by him That among other useful Services his Eminence did also this good office that he was zealous and diligent in preventing the Leprosie and Contagion of his Heresie from infecting any part of his Dominions Afterwards he reproaches him for his Incestuous Marriage than which no fouler Crime could be committed This Cardinal was one Thomas Woolsey a Man of mean Birth but in high Favour with the King of England Duke George of Saxony also made such an Answer to Luther as it might easily appear how much he hated him When the French Embassadors that were sent to Spain to treat of Peace among whom was Margaret the King 's own Sister a Widow could effect nothing Aloisia the Queen Mother who had the Regency of the Kingdom for her own Security prevailed with King Henry to enter into Alliance and Amity with her and this was concluded about the latter end of August The chief
Article of that League was That they should resist the Invasions of the Turk and the Sect of Luther which was as dangerous as the violence of the Turk The Cardinal of England who could do any thing with the King was thought to have persuaded his Majesty to this Alliance for he bore no good-will to the Emperor because he look'd upon him as the cause why after the Death of Adrian he was not chosen Pope as the Imperialists have given it out in their Writings When Luther had read the King of England's Answer which was Printed and therein found Inconstancy objected unto him as if he had changed his Opinion in Matters of Religion which he looked upon not only as a private Injury done to himself but also to the Reformed Religion It much troubled him he said that to gratifie his Friends he had written so submissively unto him That Christiern King of Denmark had not left off to entreat and advise him both Personally and by Letters that he would write obligingly and had told him so much of his courteous Disposition that he had put him in hopes that being gently dealt with he would receive the Reformed Religion but that now he was sensible of his Error That he had been just so served by Cardinal Cajetane George Duke of Saxony and Erasmus of Rotterdam to whom at the desire of others he had written affectionately and all that he got by it was to render them more fierce and untractable That it was a foolish thing for him to imagin to find godliness in the Courts of Princes to look for Christ where Satan bore rule and to enquire after St. John Baptist among Courtiers who were clad in Purple That therefore since he could do no good by that gentle and loving way of Writing he would take another course for the future The French King being anxious and troubled in thoughts that the Treaty of Peace did not go forward fell into a fit of Sickness but being encouraged by the Emperor's discourse who bid him be of good cheer and hope the best he began at length to be somewhat better The Emperor also considering with himself what a great loss it would be unto him if he should chance to die inclined daily more and more to Peace So that January the Fourteenth all things were at length concluded at Madrid and in the Treaty of Peace it is stipulated among other things that the Emperor and King shall endeavour to extirpate the Enemies of the Christian Religion and the Heresies of the Sect of the Lutherans In like manner That Peace being made betwixt them they should settle the Affairs of the Publick and make War against the Turk and Hereticks excommunicated by the Church for that it was above all things necessary and that the Pope had often solicited and advised them to bestir themselves therein That therefore in compliance with his desires they resolved to entreat him that he would appoint a certain day when the Embassadors and Deputies of all Kings and Princes might meet in a convenient place with full Power and Commission to treat of such measures as might seem proper for undertaking a War against the Turk and also for rooting out Hereticks the Enemies of the Church Again that he would give leave to those Princes who laboured in so holy and pious a Work to collect and raise the Money which was usual and customary in such cases and also that he would impose a Tax upon the Clergy for the same purpose In this Pacification Eleanor the Emperor's Sister who had been married to Emanuel King of Portugal was affianced to the French King. The Emperor promised in Dowry with her Two hundred thousand Ducats and some Places in Upper Burgundy which were in Controversie betwixt them The King on the other hand promised within two Months after his return into France to deliver up to the Emperor the Duchy of Burgundy which the Kings of France had held ever since the Death of Charles Duke of Burgundy almost now fifty Years Besides he renounced all Right and Title to Naples Milan Asta Genoua and Flanders That he should not aid nor assist Henry King of Navarre Charles Duke of Gueldres Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg nor Robert Count of Mark That he should carry on no secret Designs in Italy That when the Emperor had a mind to go into Italy he should assist him with a Navy of sixteen Galleys fitted out and equipped with all things necessary except Soldiers and also Two hundred thousand Crowns to Arm and Man them That the King should pay the yearly Pension which the Emperor was bound by Agreement to pay to the King of England That he should restore Charles Duke of Bourbonne and his Associates to all their Rights Lands and Possessions suffering them to enjoy their Estates and live where they pleased And that the King should at any time stand a Tryal at Law with the Duke of Bourbonne for the Province of Marseillies to which he claims a Title The King having sworn to the Emperour to observe these Conditions was set at liberty and returned home but upon his passing the Borders of Spain he left behind him his two Sons Francis and Henry little Boys as Hostages according as it had been agreed upon and in case he should fail in performance of Articles he promised to deliver himself up Prisoner again After this the Princes of Germany in great Numbers met at Spire according to appointment as we told you in the former Book among whom also was John Elector of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hesse The Emperour's Deputies were Ferdinand his Brother Bernard Bishop of Trent Casimire Marquess of Brandenburg Philip Marquess of Baden William Duke of Bavaria and Erick Duke of Brunswick When these had opened the Dyet June 25 and had told the Reasons why the Emperour had called it they farther added That above all things it was the Emperours Will and Command That the States of the Empire would with unanimous Consent take some course how the Christian Religion and the ancient Rites and Customs of the Church might be entirely and universally retained Again How they were to be punished and curbed that acted to the contrary if peradventure they should make use of Force And how also mutual Aid and Assistance was to be given that the Emperour's Edict of Wormes published five Years before and the Decree of the present Dyet might be observed and put in execution When a Committee of all the Princes and States had been chosen to treat of these things among whom were the Landgrave James Sturmey of Strasburg and Cress of Norimberg the Emperour's Deputies again assemble all the States August 3 and tell them That they understood there was a Committee of the whole appointed to confer among themselves about the matters proposed who as they supposed would first consult about Religion but that the Emperour's Will and Pleasure might be obeyed and that they might
and Designs of his Enemies That when Francis Sforza was by his Generals besieged in the Castle of Milan and some great Men invited him to enter into a League he had not listned to them But that he was now very ill requited for all these good Offices for that his Soldiers had done great Injuries and given great Affronts both to him and the Church of Rome Again That he had neither performed Conditions nor repaid the Money that was advanced upon that account That the Aversion he had also to him sufficiently appeared in that he concealed from him the Conditions upon which he had made Peace with the King of France That he had obstinately rejected all the Intercessions made by him for Sforza That in Spain and Naples he had made Laws derogatory to the Liberty of the Roman Church and his own Dignity and that having sent the Duke of Bourbonne to the Siege of Marseilles he had raised a new War in Italy That for these Reasons therefore he had been obliged to enter into a League with some who loved the Peace and Welfare of Italy That if he also was desirous of Peace and would imbrace it well and good but if not That he wanted neither Force nor Power to defend Italy and the Interest of Rome The King of England was comprehended in this League and with great Promises invited to be Protector of it To this Letter of his the Emperour wrote an answer from Granada dated September 18 wherein he represented unto him How much he had deserved at his Hands as that by his Intercession and Assistance he had been made Pope That when he was chosen Emperour he would not accept it till Leo X had approved the Election and also owned his Right to the Kingdom of Naples but that he afterwards and Albert Prince of Carpi had by Leo's Orders attempted several things against him and entring into a League with the French had used all their Endeavours to get Naples and Sicily out of his hands That afterwards when the Times changed and the French in vain attempted Regio in Modena a Town depending on the Pope he with the Assistance of Pope Leo's Troops had made War against the King of France in which War his Holiness himself was Legate from Pope Leo and at that time had from him for a Reward a yearly Pension of ten thousand Ducats out of the Revenues of the Archbishop of Toledo That the French being beat out of Italy by the Conduct of the Duke of Bourbonne he could not deny him the Liberty of making War in France that he might recover what the French King had taken from him because of his Revolting But that after the Siege of Marseilles was raised the French King had at the Instigation of his Holiness himself as most Men affirmed renewed the War in Lumbardy That Naples indeed held of the See of Rome nevertheless said he should you make War in those places you would thereby lose all your Right and Title for that the same Reasons which make a Vassal and Feudatary lose his Fief make the Sovereign Lord lose also his Dominion Before the French King was taken you did indeed mediate for a Peace but your design was That under a Colour of Sequestration you might get into the Possession of the Dutchy of Milan and therefore the Venetians and Florentines influenced by you withdrew their Auxiliary Forces which they were bound by League to furnish For the French King both openly confesses That being sollicited by you he had made a new League before he returned home out of Spain and I have certain Intelligence also That you have absolved him from the Oath whereby he stands obliged to me Besides you have attacked me in a Hostile manner before the Letter wherein you denounce War came to my Hands And you have laid a Design not only to drive me out of Italy but also to degrade me from the Imperial Dignity This I can prove by the Letters of Ferdinand D' Avalos Marquess of Pescara whom you inticed into that League with a Promise of the Kingdom of Naples I have Right to challenge the Dutchy of Milan for more Reasons than one and nevertheless for the sake of the Peace of Italy I suffered Sforza to enjoy it and when he was dangerously sick would have put the Duke of Bourbonne in his Place perceiving that it would be acceptable to you and the rest of Italy Now that he was blockt up in the Castle of Milan the Reason was Because he had incurred the Crime of High Treason by making a League with you and that the Conspiracy being detected he would neither deliver up the Castles of Cromona nor Milan to my Officers nor yet purge himself of the Crimes objected to him and stand a fair Tryal Your Demand was That I should freely pardon him all but that I neither could nor ought to do lest I might thereby give a bad Example for Vassals to rebel against their Sovereigns and Lords If my Soldiers took Provisions and other Necessaries from the People of Parma and Piacenza it is not to be thought strange because these Cities belong to the Dominion of Milan and not at all to the Church of Rome As to the Peace made with France I concealed nothing of it from your Ministers for the Conditions are such as I would not have them to be-kept secret for they tend both to the maintaining the Peace of the Publick and to the restraining of the Enemy of Christendom Those few Laws made in Spain aim only at this That the Rights of Patronage which were granted to me by Pope Adrian may be suppressed at Rome But see the baseness of the thing Rome receives more Money and Profits out of my Kingdoms and Provinces than from all Christendom beside That may be proved by the Demands of the Princes of Germany when complaining heavily of the Court of Rome they desired a Remedy to their Grievances But out of the Respect I bore to the Church of Rome at that time I slighted their Complaints which being so and seeing I have given you no cause of Offence I earnestly desire you to desist from Hostility I shall do the like And seeing God hath set us up as two great Luminaries let us endeavour that the World may be enlightned by us and that no Eclipse may happen by our Dissentions Let us consider the whole state of Christendom and think of resisting Infidels and of suppressing the Sect and Errours of the Lutherans In this the Glory of God is concerned and here we should begin Afterwards let other Affairs and Controversies be heard you shall always find me ready to assist you But if I cannot prevail and you will needs go on like a Warriour I Protest and Appeal to a Council that all Quarrels may be therein decided and demand that it may speedily be called What he says of Luminaries he borrows it from the Words of Pope Innocent III who said That God
French King giving the Reasons why he did not observe the Pacification of Madrid To this Apology a long and copious Answer was made in behalf of the Emperour Now that Buda was taken with a great part of Hungary and that the People were in a most distressed Condition there some Princes chosen by the rest met at Esling where the Council of the Empire then sate There upon deliberation it was resolved That the Embassie lately agreed upon should be omitted and Letters sent to the Emperour to beseech him That by reason of the greatness of the Danger he would hasten his return into Germany In this Letter which bore date December 19 they inform his Imperial Majesty That they had resolved to send Ambassadours unto him who being to pass through France they had addressed themselves to the French King for a Safe-Conduct which he had granted but for four Months only That one Month was already expired and that before the Ambassadours could meet there would not be much time remaining That therefore to save them from Danger they had changed their Purpose and put off that Embassie till the next Dyet of the Empire for that perhaps they might in the mean time have either a more convenient Occasion of sending or his Majesty be informed of their Business by other means Having so ordered these Affairs they appoint a Dyet to meet at Ratisbonne April 1 in the Year following to take the Turkish War into consideration Though the Emperour wrote to the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals in the manner before expressed yet his Letters wrought no effect And the Confederates having sent Ambassadours unto him as it had been agreed upon demanded That he would lay down Arms that they might take Measures for setling a Publick Peace That he would restore Francis Sforza Duke of Milan take the French King's Ransome and dismiss his Sons who were Hostages and pay the Money which he had borrowed of the King of England To these Demands the Emperour made answer at Valladolid February 12 That he could not for some short time lay down Arms but that he did not refuse to make a Truce for three Years or more That all their Forces in conjunction might be sent against the common Enemy of Christendom and that in the mean time a Treaty of Peace might go on That Sforza was a Vassal of the Empire and stood accused of High Treason and therefore could not be restored unless he were first tryed wherefore he should give an Appearance at Law and answer the Accusation brought against him before unsuspected Judges whom he should appoint That he could not take Money and restore the King's Children for that it was contrary to the King's Faith and Oath That it seemed strange to him that they should put it to him To pay the Money due to the King of England since they had no Warrant from him to do so For that he had so great Friendship with the King of England as could not be broken for a Money business That therefore since their Demands were out of the way he desired them to propose others That he was not resolved to be obstinate and would pass by many things for the Publick Good. So then the Ambassadours departed without Success great Preparations for War were made on both sides Much about this time John Frederick Son to the Elector of Saxony married the Lady Sibylla Daughter to John Duke of Cleve The Infanta Catharine the Emperour 's eldest Sister had been betrothed unto him and the Contract of Marriage thereupon signed and sealed but upon the Change of Religion that happened in Saxony the Match was broken off and Hawnart who was then the Emperour's Ambassadour in Germany stuck not to say publickly That Faith was not to be kept with Hereticks herein I suppose treading in the Steps of the Council of Constance as the Duke of Saxony himself took notice afterwards in a publick Paper Charles Duke of Bourbonne was one of the Emperors Generals who some years before had revolted from the King of France as we said already He upon his march with an Army to Naples appeared before Rome and next day after which was the sixth of May took it by Assault and plundered it Pope Clement with the Cardinals and other Prelats having with much ado escaped to the Castle of St. Angelo were there block'd up for seven months and at length delivered by the Emperors command It is not to be expressed with what cruelty and insolence the German and Spanish Soldiers behaved themselves in Rome for besides their horrid Butcheries Plunderings Ravishings and Devastations they vented all sorts of Reproaches and contumelious Scoffs against the Pope Cardinals and the rest of the Clergy The Emperor took a great deal of pains to excuse that Action alledging that they had no orders from him to do it and he wrote about it particularly to the King of England telling him that though he believed it to be a just Judgment of God who revenged the injury and violence that had been done unto him yet he would make it his endeavour that this very calamity should be an occasion and beginning of the welfare of Christendom When the news of this was brought to the Emperor in Spain he presently commanded all publick Playes and Shows to cease which were then made for the birth of his Son Philip. The King of England made an Answer to that Letter of the Emperors but the Pope being now Prisoner whom he highly reverenced and the Emperors power increasing he began to think of War and for that end sent the Cardinal of York Embassador into France None of the Princes came to the Dyet at Ratisbonne but sent only their Deputies so that nothing was done except only that May the eighteenth they wrote to the Emperor to give him an account why nothing could be done and tell him That it would conduce much to the interest of Christendom that Civil Wars should be composed and that above all things his Presence was necessary in Germany At this time there was a new kind of Doctrin broached by those whom they call Anabaptists These are against Infant Baptism are themselves re-baptized and teach that all goods should be in common Both Luther Zuinglius and many others wrote against them and the Magistrates punished them in all places They bragg'd also of Visions and Dreams and at San-Gall a Town of Switzerland one of them cut off his brothers head in presence of his father and mother whom he persuaded that God had commanded him to do so but being apprehended by the Magistrate he suffered the same kind of death himself How they afterwards increased and what troubles they raised in Germany you shall hear hereafter This year it was ordered by the Senate of Strasburg that the dead should no longer be buried within the City and they appointed some burying places without the Town When the French King heard
of the taking of Rome having made a League with the King of England he sent a puissant Army into Italy under the command of Lautrech a Gascoin for the relief of the Pope He being come into Lombardy and joyned by the Venetians took first Alexandria and then Pavia partly by composition and partly by assault where the Soldiers enraged that their King should have been taken there having made great slaughter of the Towns-people plundered it July the twenty seventh Charles Duke of Bourbonne who had been lately killed at the taking of Rome was condemned of High Treason by the Parliament of Paris his name and memory declared infamous his arms torn and his goods and lands forfeited Anthony du Prat the Chancellour pronounced the Sentence Bourbonne bore a mortal hatred to the French King and being about to besiege Marseilles as we mentined in the Fourth Book he wrote to the Cardinal of York among other things that he would spare neither pains nor perils in assisting King Henry for the recovery of the Right and Title he had to France For above two hundred years the English have laid claim to the whole Kingdom of France but especially to Normandy Gascony and Guienne By these Letters therefore Bourbonne oblique stirred up the King of England to prosecute his Right there and they coming after into the hands of the French King incensed him far more against the Duke There was at that time in Bavaria one Leonard Cesar a Professor of the Gospel who being apprehended by orders from the Bishop of Passaw maintained these points of Doctrin That man was Justified by Faith alone That there was but two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper That the Mass was not a Sacrifice and availed not the Quick and the Dead That the Confession of sins was a counsel and not a precept That Christ alone made Satisfaction for us That the Vow of Chastity was not obligatory That the Scripture did not speak of Purgatory That there was no distinction of Days That the Dead were no Intercessors and that in spiritual and divine matters Man had no Free-will When he was brought to Tryal he would have spoken more fully of all these Points to the People but was not suffered Eckius was one of those that tryed him and all spoke in Latin that the People might not understand save only the Prisoner who discoursed in Dutch but could not get them to do the same At length he was condemned for a Heretick and being delivered over to the Temporal Magistrate William Duke of Bavaria under whose Jurisdiction he lived August 16 he was burnt for the Bishop did not pronounce Sentence of Death against him lest he might pollute holy things and become irregular by having a Hand in his Blood. Ferdinand who had been the Emperour's Deputy in Germany after the Death of King Lewis being chosen King of Bohemia and standing in competition with the Vaivode of Transilvania for the Crown of Hungary which occasioned a War. Philip Marquess of Baden who was substituted unto him called a Dyet in the Emperour's Name to be held at Ratisbonne in the beginning of March following whither the States should repair to consult of Religion and the Turkish War. You heard before of the Disputation of Baden but since the Acts of the Dispute and Conference were not communicated to those of Berne the most noted and powerful Canton of all the Switzers though they had desired it and that the Differences about Religion increased all the Ministers not agreeing among themselves in Doctrin they appointed another Disputation to be had within their own City December 17 whereof they made publick Intimation and called thereunto the Bishops of Constance Basil Sitien and Lausenne warning them to come in person and bring their Divines with them else they threatned them with the loss of all the Lands and Possessions they had within their Territories afterwards they made a List of the Clergy-Mâ—n of their Jurisdiction and appointed the Scriptures of the Old and News Testament to be the only Rule and to have the sole Authority in all the Debates giving likewise a Safe-Conduct to all that pleased to come This Order they also made That all things should be carried on modestly without railing or reproach and that every Man should freely speak his Mind and so distinctly that what they said might be taken by Clerks they also ordained That what should be agreed upon and determined in that Conference should be of Force and have its course through all their Dominions And that all might know what they were to dispute about and come the better prepared they published Theses to the number of ten which their Ministers Francis Colb and Berthold Holler offered to maintain and prove by Scripture And these were That the true Church whereof Christ is the only Head springs from the Word of God perseveres therein and will not hear the Voice of another That this same Church made no Laws besides God's Word That therefore the Traditions of Men who bear the name of the Church no farther oblige us than as they are consonant to the Word of God That Christ alone made Satisfaction for the Sins of the whole World That therefore if any Many say There is any other way of Salvation or of expiating of Sins he denies Christ That it cannot be proved by Scripture That the Body and Blood of Christ are really and Corporally received That the Rite of the Mass wherein Christ is offered up to his Heavenly Father for the Quick and the Dead is repugnant to Scripture and a Reproach to that Sacrifice which Christ made for us That Christ alone is to be prayed unto as the Mediator and Advocate for us with God the Father That it is not to be found in Holy Scripture that there is any place where Souls are purged after this Life That therefore the Prayers and all the Ceremonies and Anniversary Offices which are performed for the Dead Tapers Lamps and the like are of no use at all That it is contrary to Holy Scripture that any Image or Picture should be proposed to be worshiped That therefore if they be placed in Churches for that end they are to be removed That Marriage is forbidden to no Order of Men but that for avoiding of Fornication the Scripture permits all to marry And that since all Whoremongers are by Testimony of Scripture really separated from the Communion of the Church impure and unchast Celibacy is least of all becoming the Order of Priesthood When those of Berne had written concerning these things to all the Cantons exhorting them to send their learned Men and to give Safe-Conduct to all others who pleased to come The Cantons of Lucerne Vri Switz Vnderwald Zug Glaris Friburg and Solothurne answered by a long Letter seriously exhorting them That they would desist from their Enterprize putting them in mind of their League and Association and of the Disputation of Baden whereof they themselves
were the Authors and chief Advisers nor was it lawful said they for any People or Province to make Innovations in Religion but that it belonged only to a General Council They praied them not to attempt such a heinous Wickedness nor suffer themselves to be misled into Errour by a few Strangers but to persevere in the same Religion which they themselves and their Ancestors had lived in wherein they had got so much Honour and Reputation wherein they had so enlarged their Territories and wherein they had been so often Victorious That it was reasonable they should obtain that at their Hands but if otherwise that then they could not grant a Safe-Conduct as they desired but that when they should know who the Persons were they would pick and chuse for that they would give no more Safe-Conduct to those who being upon publick Assurance given called to the Disputation of Baden either out of Contempt or Distrust came not That besides they would neither send nor suffer any of their Divines to come Those of Berne nothing moved at all this proceeded and at the Day appointed which was January 7 commenced the Dispute None of the Bishops we named came but they of Basil Scafhausen Zurich Appenzel San Gall Mulhausen and the neighbouring Grisons also sent their Deputies As also did the Cities of Strasburg Vlm Ausburg Lindaw Constance and Isue The Doctors of the City of Berne whom we named began the Disputation and their These were defended by Zuinglius Occolampadius Bucer Capito Blancer and several more Among others who impugned was one Conrad Treger and Augustine Fryer of great Fame who at length offering Arguments from other Topicks than from the Bible and the Presidents of the Dispute not suffering that as being contrary to Order departed The Dispute ended January 26 and the Points of Doctrins we mentioned were approved by the Plurality of Voices whereupon the Magistrates not only of Berne but of some neighbouring Places also ratified and approved them commanding them to be observed Mass Altars and Images being everywhere abolished and pulled down In Constance some things had been changed before and Fornication Adultery and Dishonest or Suspected Company being by Law prohibited there the Canons left the place in great Anger Their Preacher was one Ambrose Blancer a Gentleman of good Birth who had been a Monk in Alperspack but being a Man of Parts and having read Luther's Books he changed his Mind and after much heart-burning which he suffered from his Companious left the Order and returned home to his Parents and Relations Now that Abbey stands in the Dutchy of Wirtemberg then in possession of Ferdinand Archduke of Austria wherefore the Abbot got the Governour of the Country to send to the Senate of Constance that he might be reduced to Duty and sent back to his Monastery Whereupon Blancer published a Narrative of the whole matter and propounded Conditions upon which he was willing to return But they were such as his Abbot would not admit of so that he remained still at Constance and this was in the Year 1523. After the Disputation of Berne the Mass Images Altars and Ceremonies were abolished also at Constance The People of Geneva in like manner followed the Example of Berne in casting away Images and Ceremonies Wherefore the Bishop and Clergy in Anger left the City Upon the change of Religion the Canton of Berne renounced the League with France and prohibited all mercenary Warrings as they of Zurich had done contenting themselves with that yearly Pension which the French King paid them to keep the Peace and made an Inscription in Golden Letters upon a Pillar of the Day and Year when Popery was abolished to stand as a Monument to Posterity We told you before That the Cardinal of York was sent Ambassadour into France where having concluded a League both Kings sent Ambassadours to the Emperour the French King demanding That he would take his Ransome and deliver him up his Sons who were in Hostage and the King of England That he would pay him a three-fold Debt he owed him to wit three hundred thousand Crowns of lent Money fifty thousand for not fulfilling his Contract of Marriage and his Pension for four Years which was promised him by the Emperour as we shewed you in the third Book When the Emperour had made Answer to these Demands not according to their Minds the King of England also sent him a Defiance by a Herauld for at that time he was projecting How he might be Divorced from his Queen Catharine the Emperour's Mother's Sister and marry another which he did as shall be said hereafter The Emperour bitterly accused the French King to other Princes for his breach of Faith and Promise and had often twitted the French Ambassadours therewith Wherefore the King sent a Herauld to him with Letters dated at Paris March 28 to this effect From the Discourse said he which thou hadst with my Ambassadours I understand That thou hast spoken some things to my Dishonour as if contrary to Faith and Promise I had escaped out of thy Hands Now though he who has Guards set over him after matters are transacted is freed from Obligation And although this be enough to excuse me yet to justifie my Honour and Reputation I have thought fit to tell thee in short That if thou blamest what I have done and my departure or sayest that I have ever acted any thing unworthy of a Prince I tell thee plainly Thou lyest for I am resolved to maintain my Honour and Reputation to my last breath There is no need then of many Words and if thou hast any thing to say to me let me have no more Writing from thee but name the Place where we may fight it out hand to hand for if thou delayest to give me a Meeting and in the mean time ceasest not to asperse me I protest thou art base for a Duel will put an end to the Dispute We took notice before of the Competition of Ferdinand and the Vaivode of Transilvania concerning the Crown of Hungary and now a War ensuing thereupon wherein Ferdinand had the better on 't the Vaivode in the Month of April wrote to the States of the Empire as follows After the deplorable Fall of King Lewis said he I was chosen and crowned King of Hungary by the common Consent of all the Nobles except three whom Poverty Hatred and Hopes of better Fortune so far transported as forgetting the Interest and Welfare of their Country to declare themselves for Ferdinand King of Bohemia And when I was wholly imployed in succouring my Country and recovering our Losses that by that means I might procure your Quiet He at the same time in a hostile manner invaded my Country makes himself master of some Towns and by those of his Faction I mentioned is created King at Presburg It was to me indeed both a great Wonder and Grief That this Nation which
was miserable enough before should now be afflicted by him who chiefly ought to protect the same It had been easie for me at that time to have repelled his Hostilities but I was not willing rashly to venture what remained of this Kingdom after so many Shipwracks I only made my Complaint to Pope Clement VII Francis King of France Henry King of England and Sigismund King of Poland And indeed Sigismund unknown to me dealt with Ferdinand by Ambassadours That he would not at so unseasonable a time by promoting Civil Discord open a way for the Enemy which afterwards neither he nor any other could be able to stop up again But that he would live in Peace with me and joyn his Forces to mine against the common Enemy And when Ferdinand affirmed that he had done nothing contrary to Right and Justice it was agreed upon that some fit Men should meet at a certain Day to attempt an Accommodation of the Controversie I imbraced the Condition and at the same time by my Ambassadours whom I sent to make submission in my Name to your Arbitrement I begged of you that you would not assist my Adversary But when they arrived in Ferdinand's Country they were apprehended and made Prisoners contrary to the Law of Nations so that they could not discharge their Commission for they were to go forward from you to the Emperour Though this indeed was a heinous Injury yet at the Day appointed by Sigismund I sent some Men who were both of their own Inclination and by my Orders too very desirous of Peace But Ferdinand's Commissioners making most unreasonable Propositions they broke up without concluding any thing Whilst these things were on foot some of the Nobility tampered with by the Artifices of Ferdinand have violated their Allegiance to me Now seeing I have no free Passage left either to come or send to you I resolved at last to acquaint you by Letters how unjust a War he carries on that he may recover perhaps the Honour which in the Age past his Ancestors the Emperours Frederick and Maximilian lost here for my Uncle drove the one of them out of all the Country and baulked him of Hungary when triumphantly he was about to make himself King of it And my Father Stephen Sepsy so mauled them both in the Reign of King Matthias as that he joyned Vienna to Hungary Nay and I my self too though then but a Youth put a stop to Maximilian in his Progress against us and would have done the same against the present Enemy if he had not acted more by Cunning and Treachery than by Valour and Force of Arms. I have indeed hitherto born with that Injury as patiently and as well as I could But consider with your selves most Noble Princes How grievous a thing it is to be cast down from Supreme Dignity to the state of a Private Man. Hardly I think is there any Man to be found so tame and patient as having received so many Injuries would not look about him for assistance wherever he could have it Seeing then I have at no time since I entred into the Government refused to hearken to any reasonable Conditions nor do at present reject them but would do any thing rather than cause a Civil War and that my Enemy goes on obstinately I make Protestation That it ought not to be imputed to me as a Fault if I take any sort of course for my own Defence and Protection And that if any Prejudice redound from thence to Christendom that is not to be attributed to me who have essayed all ways of Peace but to my Enemy who with highest Injustice invades the Kingdom of another He is careful indeed to stop all the Wayes that no News may be brought to you but yet I suppose you have heard how he deserted his Brother-in-law King Lewis for though he had been often and with very earnest Entreaty sollicited yet he neither sent him Men Artillery nor any other Aid against his Powerful Enemy And why because his Heart and Eye were already upon the Crown after his Death Besides he sent the Publick Aids of the Empire designed for Hungary to his Brother to plague Italy with whilst I sent and paid about three thousand Men of my own Forces under the command of my Brother to the Assistance of King Lewis designing to have been present in person at the Battle had not the King commanded me to continue in Transilvania but my Brother dyed bravely in the Fight Ferdinand also took a solemn Oath That before he had recovered Belgrade and some other Castles he would not take upon him the Government But he forfeited his Promise herein for the Turks made an Incursion far up into the Country and having wasted the Land and taken the strong Castle of Jaitza in Bosnia returned home loaded with Spoils This Castle was heretofore taken from the Turks by King Matthias with a great loss of his Men my Uncle Emerick also held out a long Siege therein and defended it against them and our Kings likewise were at vast Charges in fortifying it But this General of ours who made such glorious Promises as an Essay of his Valour fairly suffered it to be lost and being now destitute of all things implores I suppose your Aid and Assistance as if he were in Danger for the sake of Germany But his Designs tend a quite different way for it is not against the Turk that he is preparing Arms to whom by Ambassadours lately sent he offers a yearly Tribute But his Aim is That with your Men and Money he may assist his Brother in Italy and by undoing of me enslave Hungary Which being so I most earnestly beseech you to take Care That this private Wrong which is now done to me may not turn to the Prejudice of all Christendom Not long after he wrote also to the Emperour much to the same purpose praying him to divert his Brother and these things he published in his own Defence But King Ferdinand insisted upon the Compact which in the Year 1491 the Emperour Maximilian made with the Hungarians and King Ladislaus wherein it was stipulated That if Ladislaus dyed without Heirs Male that then the Kingdom should fall to Maximilian and the Heirs of his Body Since therefore King Lewis Son to Ladislaus was dead without Issue as we said before Ferdinand who was Grand-Son to Maximilian and Archduke of Austria and besides was married to the Sister of King Lewis pretended that the Kingdom of right belonged unto him At the very same time Philip Landgrave of Hesse and the Elector of Saxony having raised Forces prepared for War And the Reason of it was this A certain Lawyer Otho Becken a Man of Noble Extraction and one of the chief Counsellours of George Duke of Saxony being occasionally in Discourse with the Landgrave admonished him to look to himself for that lately King Ferdinand the Elector of Brandenburg George Duke of Saxony William and Lewis Dukes
therefore stick to that and make it their Endeavour That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament should be plainly and purely taught That this alone was the Sure and Infallible Way but that the Traditions of Men were no sure Ground to build upon That the Decree of the last Dyet was made for Peace and Concord's sake but that if the present Decree should be in Force it would open a way to great Troubles and Discontents for that now since whilst that Decree of Wormes was still in suspense some Princes pretended to the Estates of their Subjects as forfeited for not observing the Edict it might be easily understood what would be done if the same Edict were again established and some of the other Princes and States should by Force attempt to compel them to those things which they could not perform with a safe Conscience That moreover it was not fairly alledged That the Decree of the last Dyet was conceived in such Words that most men in the mean time did abuse it and thought they might do what they pleased until the meeting of a Council These being Rumors spread by those who stood but little in awe of the last Judgment when all things should be made manifest That for their own Parts they were willing to answer such as would accuse them of transgressing that Decree before any impartial Judges And that therefore since the Case was so they did not assent to this Decree of theirs but would give Reasons for what they did openly to all Men and to the Emperour himself and that in the mean time till the meeting of a General or Provincial Council of Germany they would not act any thing which they could not maintain by Law That after all they were not ignorant neither of their Duty as to what was decreed concerning living in Peace not invading other Men's Possessions Anabaptists and Printers c. Some of the chief Cities after consultation had joyned with the Princes in this Protestation as Strasburg Norimberg Vlm Constance Ruteling Winshaim Memmingen Lindaw Kempen Hailbrun Isne Weissemburg Norlingen and San-Gall And this is the Original of the Name of Protestants which is famous and common not only in Germany but also amongst Foreign Nations King Ferdinand was gone out of the Assembly before this Protestation was made though he had been desired by the Elector of Saxony and his Associates to stay a little Afterwards the Protestants drew up and published a kind of an Appeal wherein having related what had been done they at length appeal from all the Proceedings of the Dyet of Spire and the Decree there made to the Emperour to a Lawful General Council or Provincial Synod of Germany and in short to all impartial and unsuspected Judges determining withal to send Ambassadours to the Emperour Not long after those of Zurich and Berne took the Field with an Army against their Enemies the five Cantons whom we mentioned a little before and the Zurichers published a Declaration of the Reasons and Causes that moved them to do so instancing many Injuries done by them and among the rest that in the Canton of Switz some of their People who came to demand Money due unto them had been whipt That they of Vnderwalt had hung up their Arms and the Arms of Berne Basil and City of Strasburg upon the Gallows That they all also had made a League with King Ferdinand for the Suppression of the Reformed Religion wherein they said It was stipulated That what Lands of theirs on this side the Rhine should be taken by the Assistance of King Ferdinand should all belong to them from whence it may be easily seen say they that it is their Design to cast us out of our Country by the Aid and Assistance of Foreigners Wherein they not only violate the Law of Nature but their Covenants and Agreements also when to our Ruine they conspire with the most Ancient and Implacable Enemy that our Nation hath against whom for so many Years even from the beginning of our League we have so unanimously joyned all our Strength and Force When the Armies on both sides had taken the Field and were incamped by the Mediation of their Neighbours and of the City of Strasburg also the matter was accommodated and both laid down their Arms. King Ferdinand had sent them Auxiliary Forces which were advanced as far as the Rhine It was agreed upon betwixt them That they should make no War one against another upon account of Religion and that for the future they should abstain from Railing and opprobious Words under a severe Penalty The French King being affected with the condition of his Children whom he had left Hostages in Spain and his unsuccessful Wards in Italy where he had lately lost an Army and his General Lautreck as we said having likewise lost Andrea d' Auria a Genoese and most Famous Sea-Commander who much about the time that Lautreck dyed revolted to the Emperour and regained the Liberty of his Country began to incline to Peace Wherefore at Cambray a City of Hainault there met Margaret the Emperour's Aunt Aloisia the French King's Mother and many Nobles among whom was Erard de la Warch Cardinal and Bishop of Liege and in the Month of August concluded a Peace wherein that Resolution taken in Spain three Years before as hath been said against the Lutherans was revived and confirmed The other Conditions were partly altered for the Emperour resigned Burgundy to the French King in case he had a Son by his Sister and the King was to pay for the Ransome of his Sons to the Emperour twenty hundred thousand Crowns therein comprehending the Debt due to the King of England Not long after the Emperour came to Genoua from Spain and at the same time Solyman the Emperour of the Turks being invited by Jerome Alasky a Polonian of extraordinary Parts sent for that end Ambassadour from John the Vaivode marched through Hungary with a most numerous Army into Austria where laying Siege before Vienna the chief City thereof September 13 and having by battering and springing of Mines made a Breach in the Walls he gave the Assault but the Garison under the Command of Philip Prince Palatine making a brave Defence October 16 he raised the Siege having lost many thousands of his Men in the Retreat who were partly slain and partly made Slaves But upon his Departure he made the Vaivode King at Buda A new kind of Disease also invaded Germany this Year for Men being taken with a Pestilential Sweating either dyed within four and twenty Hours or if they sweated out the Poyson recovered by degrees their Health again but before any Remedy could be found for it many thousands perished The Distemper in a very short space of time spread it self from the Ocean all over Germany and with incredible celerity like a Fire raged far and near It is commonly called The Sweating Sickness of England
it might plainly appear That the Interest of the Publick and their native Country were dear unto them At the same time the Duke of Lunenburg the Landgrave and the Counts of Anhalt and Mansfield wrote at large to the Electors to the same purpose seriously advising them that they would not offer such Injury to the Laws and Rights of their Country and the rather since it was a common Report That there were Bribes and Promises in the case which was directly contrary to the Caroline Constitutions Afterwards on the last of December both the Princes and Cities we named before wrote to the Emperour a common Letter in all their Names wherein they resumed all the Proceedings at Ausburg what Sollicitations they had made for Peace what Answer his Majesty made at length especially concerning the Actions of the Crown and what kind of Decree was afterwards made there and that though his Majesty had himself qualified that Expression of the Elector of Brandenburg by telling them that the Agreement he had made with the rest of the Princes was not Offensive but only for the Defence of himself and Cause yet nevertheless if that Authority specified in the Decree should be given to the Imperial Chamber who could doubt but that it might extend to Force and Violence Since therefore both they and their Ancestors had given evident Proofs of their Zeal and Affection both towards him and his Predecessors they prayed That as he had in Word softned that Expression of the Elector of Brandenburg's so he would also really and indeed mitigate and put a stop to those Prosecutions of the Chamber that they might have assurance until the meeting of a Free and Holy Council that they needed not be afraid of any thing And that if they could obtain this at his Majesties Hands they would hereafter as in Times past contribute their Money Aid and Assistance not only towards the Turkish War but also for the other Publick Uses of the Government In the first meeting of the Princes Electors at Cologne the Emperour gave these Reasons for creating a King of the Romans Because he himself had several Kingdoms and People to govern and could not be always in Germany Because Christendom and especially Germany was in a Troublesome and Dangerous State by Reason of the Difference in Religion the Power and Force of the Turks the late Insurrection and Rebellion of the Boors and because many things were undutifully and disobediently acted in Germany for that though by their own Advice and Consent in former Years there had been a Senate and Judicature of the Empire appointed yet it was not obeyed as it ought to have been And that therefore it seemed absolutely necessary to him for the Welfare of the State that a King of the Romans should be chosen who might under him and in his absence be as it were another Head of the Empire that he ought to be a Man of Parts Vigilant Industrious and Powerful a Lover of Peace and Concord acquainted with the Affairs of the Empire and in short altogether such as he himself might Trust and Relie upon But that he knew no Man more capable of that Province than his own Brother Ferdinand King of Bohemia and Hungary whose Limits and Kingdoms were as a Wall and Rampart for the Safety and Preservation of Germany against the cruelty of the Turks The Princes Electors after deliberation had praid the Emperour that he would not leave Germany but settle his Court and Residence in it But he persisting in his Purpose on the Fifth of January they declared Ferdinand King of the Romans The Elector of Saxony did all he could which was to make his Son give Reasons why he could not approve that Election and to protest against it as illegall Long before the Dyet of Ausburg broke up there was a Report spread abroad That Ferdinand would be promoted to that Dignity From Cologne they went all afterwards to Aix la Chapelle where King Ferdinand was Installed on the eleventh of January who presently dispatched Letters to give notice of it all over Germany The Emperour also commanded by Proclamation That all should own him for King of the Romans and wrote separately to the Protestants to the same purpose In the mean while that the Emperour was at Cologne the Protestants Letter was delivered unto him wherein they desired to be exempted from the Prosecutions of the Imperial Chamber as we said before Thereunto he made answer at Aix la Chapelle January 13 by the Mouth of Frederick Prince Palatine That they needed not to go any farther or wait longer for any Answer for that he had not as yet considered of it but that he would in time think on what answer he should give them Having done so he went into Brabant a Province of the Netherlands THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK VIII The CONTENTS The Princes assembled at Smalkalde dispatch Letters to the Kings of England and France wherein they let them understand what false Reports are gone abroad against them They solicite the King of Denmark and the Maritime Cities to joyn with them in the League as far as they shall think it convenient The Switzers are not admitted into this Confederacy The King of France returns an Answer to the Protestants Letters and the King of England does the same The Embassadors of the Cities deliver in at Franckford their Sentiments concerning the Creation of a King of the Romans and there likewise the Controversie between the Bishop of Bamburg and George Duke of Brandenburg is agitated The Emperor appoints a Diet to meet at Spiers to which the Elector of Saxony refuses to come There are some Conditions laid down upon which the Protestants do promise to make their appearance there A Civil War breaks out between those of Zurich and the five Confederate Cantons in which Zuinglius is slain Soon after OEcolampadius departs this life A Treaty is held about entring into a Peace with the Protestants till such time as a Council should sit Christiern King of Denmark is taken Prisoner Solyman the Grand Seignior invades Austria and is driven out of it again The Elector of Saxony dies The Pope sends an Embassador into Germany to propound certain Rules and Methods for the holding of the intended Council to each of which the Duke of Saxony having diligently consider'd the matter returns a very full Answer within a few days IN the former Convention at Smalkalde this among other things was agreed upon that since the Adversaries were very busie in throwing dirt upon their Cause and endeavour'd every where by numerous Calumnies to bring their Profession of the Gospel into Disgrace the Kings of England and France should in the first place be written to that they would not suffer themselves to be influenc'd by such false Reproaches Accordingly on the 16 day of Febr. the Dukes of Saxony Brandenburg Lunenburg and the Lantgrave together with the Cities of Strasburg
seems to him not only most equitable but also most safe for the Publick which must needs be brought into a most miserable condition should the matter come to be determin'd by Arms. What he speaks concerning the Affinity between Germany and France is thus made out The German Franks that were Borderers upon Schwaben having made an Irruption and over-run those of Triers Kesel Morini Hainault Amiens Beauvais and Soissons set down at length in that part of Gaul which from them was called France and retains it's name till this very time of which Province Paris is the Capital City And when many of their Kings had reigned there by Succession and enlarg'd their Borders the Government at length descended to King Pipin and his Son Charles who for the vastness of his Exploits was call'd The Great he when he was the fourth time at Rome was by the Pope and all the People saluted August Emperor and took Possession of Germany Italy and France his Son Lewis also and those that descended from him were Kings of France Hither it is therefore that King Francis traces his Original and derives his Pedigree from the Stock of the Franks The same Wheedle he some years since made use of when after the death of Maximilian he affected the Imperial Dignity For knowing that the ascent to this Honour was precluded to all Foreigners by an ancient Law he had a mind this way to demonstrate himself to be a German But the truth of it is the last King of France of the Male-Line of Charles the Great was Lewis the Fifth who died without Children in the year of our Lord 988 when the Possession of the Kingdom had been in that Family for the space of 238 years After his death the right of Succession devolv'd to Charles Duke of Lorain Uncle to Lewis by the Father's side but Hugh Capet said to be Earl of Paris whose Mother through a long Genealogy trac'd her Kindred up to Charles the Great having vanquish'd and taken the Duke of Lorain invaded the Kingdom and transmitted it to his Son Robert whose Male-Issue was continued down by Succession ev'n to this Francis. There are some who affirm that this Capet was of a very mean and obscure Parentage but most Historians deny that and ascribe unto him the same Original that I have done Henry the Eighth King of England return'd his Answer on the third of May That he was to his great Satisfaction inform'd by them that their great aim and design was to heal the Distempers of the Church and procure a Reformation of those things which either through the naughtiness or ignorance of men had been deprav'd and corrupted without doing any injury to Religion or disturbing the Publick Peace That he takes it very kindly that they had in their Letters giv'n him a Scheme of the whole Action for there had been a Report rais'd to their disadvantage as if they gave Protection to certain mad Men who endeavour'd to confound and level all things But that he had giv'n no Credit to these Reports as well because Christian Charity so requir'd as because he judg'd it impossible that such Crimes could stick to such illustrious wise and noble Persons And though he never would have believed any of those things which were thus reported of them without a certain demonstration yet he is very glad to see them take this method of clearing themselves because it confirms that judgment and opinion he always had of them As to their desire of rectifying Abuses in that they may expect both his and all good Men's concurrence with their Endeavours For such is the condition of Humane affairs that as in the body Natural so likewise in the Politick and in all publick Administrations there is almost a continual occasion for remedies Those Physicians therefore deserve the greatest Applause who so apply their Medicines as to heal the Wound or cure the Disease without exasperating the parts and he does not doubt but their Endeavours have such a tendencies as this However they ought diligently to beware of a sort of Men who aim at Innovations and Preach up Levelling Principles and endeavour to render Magistracy contemptible for that he lately met with some persons of this Leaven within his own Dominions who were come thither out of Germany And since they make mention in their Letters of the Reverence due to Magistrates he therefore gives them this short advice that they would not open a gap to any Licentiousness this way and if they use but a sufficient Caution in this Point their Endeavours after a Reformation will prove a kindness of the highest Import to the Publick As for a publick Council there is nothing which he more desires and his Prayers to God are that he would inspire the hearts of the Princes with care and diligence in that Affair That he hopes all things well of them and there is nothing which he would refuse for their sake he will likewise earnestly intercede with the Emperor that some terms of Accommodation may be found out and in this business he will so behave himself as they at their several opportunities shall judge most convenient When at the day appointed they were assembled at Frankfort the Embassadors of the Cities according to appointment declare their Sentiments concerning the Creation of a King of the Romans That after mature deliberation they conclude it not at all advisable to raise an unnecessary Squabble or create to themselves danger about giving the Title to King Ferdinand For as long as the Emperor is alive and within the Bounds of his Empire the whole Sovereign Power is in his Hands but in his absence the chief Administration indeed falls upon Ferdinand but still he must execute in the Emperor's Name and as his Substitute That they had several times offer'd as much as lay in their Power a resignation of all their Affairs to the Emperor and should they now oppose the creation of a King they must expect that most Men would upbraid them with the falseness and vanity of their promise and so upon that account become their enemies and thus they should draw upon them the enmity of many who otherwise upon the score of their Religion would never have acted against them There is likewise great danger lest others should by these Measures be deterr'd from entring into the League who might otherwise have comply'd For these Reasons they think it is not safe for them to oppose Ferdinand in this business They will therefore carry themselves indifferent as to the matter of the Election which way soever it goes But should Ferdinand Command any thing contrary to the Word of God they will then by no means obey and should he make any forceable Attempts they will then act according to the form of the League and contribute all they can towards a Defence But the Princes write thus to the Emperor and to Ferdinand that they cannot possibly approve
promise Fealty to Casimire Sigismund's Father yet this was altogether contrary to former Covenants and that this is true may be evinc'd ev'n from the testimony of Albert himself who about eight years since profess'd the same thing at the Diet of Nuremburg He prays therefore that the King of Poland's Demand being rejected the Sentence pronounc'd against Albert may be put in execution In this Diet the chief thing that fell under Deliberation was the War against the Turks And now Intelligence being daily brought both by Letters and Messengers that the Turk had sent before vast bodies of Horse towards the Danube and the Embassadors from Austria and other Neighbouring Countries having giv'n an account what great danger they were in It was resolv'd that there should be a general Contribution of Aids and that the States of the Empire should send supplies of Men rather than Mony towards this War. Therefore upon the 27th of July this Diet broke up and all went to prepare for the War. Upon the 6th of August the Elector of Saxony ended his days to whom John Frederick his Son succeeded When Solyman was come to Belgrade he struck off towards the left and attack'd in vain the Town and Castle of Gunza which was very bravely defended by Nicolas Jurisch from thence he sent out 1500 Horse to Plunder under the Command of Cason who making Excursions as far as Lintz which is above Vienna and having ravag'd the Country far and near exercis'd all manner of Barbarities But being about to retreat they fell among our Horse who had been sent out to hinder their Plunders and Rapine and being charg'd in diverse places they were at length almost all cut in pieces and Cason himself was slain in the action Solyman keeping more and more to the left came at last to Gratz a Town of Stiria which when the Emperor who was then at Lintz understood he consider'd what was to be done and came at last to this Resolution viz. To encamp his whole Army near Vienna and there to expect the Enemy But Solyman went back without performing any memorable Action The Emperor had sent to the King of France for his Assistance but his answer was as the Emperor then reported it that Germany was powerful enough of it self to oppose the Incursion of the Turk The King of England was also very dilatory and obscure too in his Answer Pope Clement did contribute his Aid and committed the chief management thereof to Cardinal Hippolitus of the house of Medices The Switzers though solicited by the Emperor would not stir At this time in the months of September and October there appear'd a Comet before Sun-rising When the Turks were retired the Emperor contrary to the opinion of those who advis'd him to persue the Enemy broke up his Army because Winter was near and departed from Vienna towards Italy When he was at Mantua he dispatch'd Letters dated the 10th of November to the States of the Empire wherein he signify'd that his Brother the King of the Romans was to Govern the Empire during his absence That 't was for very weighty Reasons that he had left Germany for Italy and that there he would treat with the Pope about a Council as it had been resolv'd upon at Ratisbon he hopes therefore they will preserve that Peace which he had lately ratify'd by his Edict and that they will pay the same Obedience to his Brother as to himself Going from thence to Bononia he came to a Conference with Pope Clement the Seventh and among other things he held a Consult with him about Religion and a Council He likewise enters into a League with him and the other Princes of Italy or rather he verbally renews it for half a year longer in order to maintain the Peace of Italy or indeed rather to preclude the French from any entrance thither The French Embassadors vigorously oppos'd it but Clement advis'd them to act more calmly giving them notice privately that it was not like to last long For the Emperor had brought with him a great number of Spanish Forces of which the Pope had a desire to clear Italy He therefore approv'd of this League in compliance with the times After this the Emperor in the month of March sets Sail for Spain and soon after the Pope sends Hugh Rango Bishop of Regium Embassador into Germany Who coming to the Elector of Saxony in company with the Emperor's Embassador made a Speech to this effect That some months since the Pope and Emperor entring into a Consultation at Bononia about several weighty Affairs they likewise took the Cause of Religion into their Consideration upon which account the Pope has thought it convenient to send an Embassy into Germany And though the greatness of the Affair deserves that a Man of larger abilities and experience should be imploy'd in it yet this Province is put upon him though very much against his will. The occasion therefore of his present coming is to let him understand the Pope's mind and pleasure in this matter nor are these things done without the consent and approbation of the Emperor It has been the earnest desire of Clement the Seventh ever since his entrance upon the Papacy that these Differences which have been created in Germany about Religion should be compos'd that so he might manage the Government of the Church with greater Ease and Tranquility That for the effecting of this he has more than once sent Men very eminent for their Learning into Germany but his labour has hitherto prov'd to no purpose But when the Emperor was come at last from Spain into Italy and was about to depart from thence into Germany the Pope had then great hopes that he might by his Countenance and Authority easily appease these Animosities Nor did the Emperor spare any diligence whereby he might restore his Country to its ancient Religion to which purpose though he held several Diets yet he could effect nothing especially since those his excellent Endeavours have been slackned and impeded by the Incursion of the Turk that Enemy of the Christian Name But now since the Emperor has been a second time in Italy and held a long Discourse with the Pope wherein he discover'd it to be his sense that there could not be a more proper and efficacious remedy found out than a general Council would be of which likewise the German Princes are eagerly desirous The Pope likewise declares himself to be well pleas'd with this Expedient both for the sake of the Publick and of the Emperor whom he is very willing to gratifie This is the occasion of their Embassy and they are oblig'd by their Instructions to declare this unto him in the name of the Pope But since the nature of the thing requires that they should first deliberate about the manner time and place of holding the Council they have therefore brought with them certain Heads subscribed by the Pope which contain the whole Model
Almighty who will undoubtedly Vindicate his own Cause and Religion However if things shall come to that pass that the Pope must have his mind in this business which they can hardly believe they will yet consider what is further to be done And if they happen to be cited and see that they can do any thing for the Glory of God they will then make their appearance if they may but have convenient Security giv'n them upon the Publick Faith. Or else they will send thither their Embassadors who shall publickly propound whatever the necessity and reason of their Cause requires This however shall be the condition that the present Propositions of the Pope shall not be accepted of nor any such Council allow'd as is contrary to the Decrees of the Empire For they cannot see how this Project of the Pope has the least tendency to advance a lasting Peace either to the Church or State nor does it become him to act after this Rate if he intends to discharge the Duty of a faithful Pastor which obliges him to advise Men for the best and to dispense unto them the wholsome Food of sound Doctrin Now since these things are so they earnestly desire them to deliver in this their Answer to the Emperor and the Pope hoping that the Emperor whom with all Reverence they acknowledge to be the Supream Magistrate constituted by God will not receive it with any Resentment but will use his Interest that â—uch a Council may be call'd as is agreeable to the Decrees of the Empire and that the whole Controversie may be discuss'd by pious and unsuspected Men. For it will without doubt very much redound both to his Glory and Advantage if he shall imploy all his Power and Authority towards the propagating of sound Doctrin and not to strengthen the cruel hands of those Men who have been for many years committing Outrage upon innocent Men only for their honest profession of such a Doctrin as is most agreeable to the Gospel Now for what remains they tender the Emperor their Service in all things and shall yield him a ready Compliance in all his other Affairs There was then with King Ferdinand Vergerius the Pope's Legate who has been mention'd in the former Book And because the Bishop of Rhegium was both ancient and infirm Clement had giv'n Orders to Vergerius to take upon him the Embassy if any difficulty should arise and that he should be sure to keep always in his View what the Pope's design and intentions were in relation to a Council He must therefore keep himself very close to his Orders and the foremention'd Proposals and not recede one hairs breadth from them But must take care not to run the Pope into streights and bring him under a necessity of holding a Council though he be never so hardly press'd by King Ferdinand himself THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOKS IX The CONTENTS George Duke of Saxony his Malicious Artifice to discover the Protestants related He complains of Luther to his Cozen German the Elector of Saxony Pope Clement marrieth his Niece at Marseilles to Henry Duke of Orleans Son to the French King. The Duke of Wirtenburgh is outed of his Dominions Henry King of England is divorced from his Queen and denieth the Pope's Supremacy The misfortune of the Franciscans at Orleans described The Duke of Wirtenburg has his Country recovered for him by the Lantgrave A Peace concluded between Ferdinand and the Elector of Saxony The Articles of it explained Paul Farnese is chosen Pope upon the death of Clement A new Persecution in France occasioned by the fixing of Papers in several places containing Disputes about Religion A great many are burned upon this account The French King excuseth his Severity to the Germans The Emperor takes the Town of Tunis and the Castle Gulette Sir Thomas More and the Bishop of Rochester are beheaded in England Pope Paul intimates a Council at Mantua by his Nuncio Vergerius The Protestants also who were now convened at Smalcalde after they had debated the Point write an Answer to Vergerius The French King sends his Embassador Langey to this Convention who presseth them to enter into a League and toucheth upon a great many Heads to which the Protestants return an Answer The King of England also dispatcheth an Embassy thither to put them in mind what Consequences may reasonably be expected from the Council The League made at Smalcalde is renewed and strengthened by the addition of a great many Princes and Cities WHen they had given the Embassadors this Answer they made these following Decrees First That a Committee of Divines and Lawyers should be chosen to draw up a Scheme of those Points which they were to insist upon at the Council in relation to Form and Debate 2ly That their Answer to the Pope should be published and imparted to foreign Princes and States 3ly They decreed to dispatch away their Agents to the Judges of the Chamber of Spire who hath prosecuted some Persons upon the account of their Religion contrary to the Emperors Edict Which Prosecutions if they were not ceas'd the Protestants resolved to demurr to the Jurisdiction of their Court. 4ly That an Embassy should be sent to the Elector of Mentz and the Palsgrave who were Princes of the Mediation and an account of all their Proceedings transmitted afterwards in writing to the Emperor I have already mentioned in several places that George Duke of Saxony had a particular hatred to Luther's Person as well as a general aversion to his Doctrin Now this Prince understanding that many of his Subjects maintained that the Lords Supper was to be received according to our Saviour's Command ordered the Parochial Clergy that those who came to them at Easter and confessed themselves conformably to the ancient Custom and received the Eucharist according to the Canons of the Church of Rome should have Tickets given them which they were to deliver into the Senate that so the Roman Catholicks and the Lutherans might be distinguish'd This scrutiny discovered seventy Persons at Leipsick the Capital Town of that Country without Tickets These Persons had consulted Luther before what they should do who wrote them word that those who were justly perswaded that the Communion was to be received in both kinds should do nothing against their Conscience but rather run the hazard of losing their Lives This advice kept them constant to their Opinion so that when they were summoned to appear before their Prince and had almost two months time allowed to consider they could not be prevail'd upon to alter their Resolution though they were singly dealt withal in private but rather chose to be banish'd the Town which was executed accordingly Luther in the Letter which I spoke of called the Duke of Saxony The Devil's Apostle This Language made a great Noise and Disturbance and the Duke immediately complained against him in a Letter to the Elector his Cozen German that he had
not only affronted and railed on him but that he endeavoured to harangue his Subjects into a Rebellion The Elector writes to Luther about it and tells him among other things that unless he can clear himself of the Crime objected against him he must be forc'd to punish him This made Luther purge himself in Print where he affirms that he did not advise any persons to resist their Prince though his Commands were wicked but rather submit to Banishment Now this cannot in any reasonable Construction be called teaching of Rebellion Those only are chargeable with that Imputation who assert the Magistrate may be lawfully resisted by force of Arms. And as for the Duke his swearing his Subjects to Persecute the reformed Religion he refers it to all Men of sense to determine how defensible such a method is Nay he knows his temper so well that if the Prince Elector should oblige his own Subjects to return him any usage of the like nature he does not question but that he would look upon it as Seditious Now as touching Magistracy and Laws no Man can raise their Character and Sacredness higher nor represent them with more advantage than he has done in his Writings Indeed when Popery governed Christendom this Doctrin concerning Magistrates underwent the same fate with other material Truths the mistakes about it making part of the ignorance of those things for then most People were perswaded that such an active sort of life was not acceptable to God Almighty But those who advance such Tenents as these are Seditious to purpose and St. Peter has given us a Prophetick description of their doom But he did wonder at the Duke's accusing him in this manner for the Professors of the true Religion have always been loaded with the Charge of Sedition Our Saviour himself was haled away and ignominiously put to death under this pretence as if he design'd to set up himself for a King and endeavour'd to draw off the People from their Allegiance to the Emperor To this little Book he added a Consolatory Letter to the Leipsickers who were banished exhorting them to bear their present Adversity patiently and also to give God thanks for that Fortitude and Constancy which they have hitherto shewed That the satisfaction which the Enemies of the Gospel took in their success would not last long but fall off sooner than was generally imagined As all their former Attempts by the especial Mercy of God had been disappointed and brought to nothing I have already mention'd the Interview between the Emperor and Clement the Seventh Now when the Emperor was returned into Spain the Pope at the request of the French King sailed through the Sea of Genoa to Marseilles where he arrived in Autumn and that there might be a more intimate Correspondence between them he married his Niece Catharine de Medices to Henry the Kings Son who was Duke of Orleance and about fifteen years of age And in regard the occasion seems to require it I shall give a short account here of the Family of the Medices Sylvester Averard and John stand in the Head of the Pedigree and were Noblemen of Florence But Cosmo was the first who raised the Grandeur of the Family being far the richest Man not only of his own City but of all Italy Cosmo his Son Peter begat Laurence and Julian Julian had a Son born after his death called Julius who was afterwards Clement the Seventh although there are different Reports concerning his Extraction Laurence had Peter Julian and John who was at last Pope Leo the Tenth Julian left no Children Peter who was banished Florence and afterwards cast away in a Storm at the mouth of Garigliano had a Son named Laurence who married a French Woman of the House of Bolen and had this Catharine we now speak of by her The Pope staid about a month at Marseilles and before he returned home to oblige the King and his Nobility he made four French Men Cardinals whom he knew to be the Kings Favorites viz. Odet Castillon Philip of Bolen Claude Gifre and John Vener Bishop of Lisieux Most People believ'd this Affinity would produce a change of Affairs in Italy and the disproportion of the Match was generally wonder'd at Nay they say Clement himself doubted the Event and scarce believed the French King in earnest till the Marriage was consummated Some few months after the Lantgrave took a Journey to the French King the occasion of it was this In the year 1519. Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburg was expelled his own Dominions by the Confederates of the League of Schwaben because he had lately taken Ruteling a Town of the Empire and under the Protection of the League This Country the Emperor purchas'd of the Confederates and afterwards gave it his Brother Ferdinand when they divided their Inheritance Now in the Diet at Auspurg several of the Princes interceded that Vlrick who had now been banish'd eleven years might be restored But this motion was to no purpose for the Emperor at that time after he had declar'd the Reasons at large why Vlrick was dispossess'd he publickly gave his Brother the Ducal Ornaments and Badges of Soveraignty for that Country The Lantgrave therefore who was nearly related to the Duke and very much his Friend had thoughts of attempting something in his behalf at that juncture but being disappointed by Persons who had promis'd their assistance he deferr'd his Design till he had a better opportunity But now the Emperor being absent and the League of Schwaben which was made for a eleven years past exired away he goes for France and Mortgages Mount Pellicarde to the King in Duke Vlrick his name for a certain sum of Mony Upon condition that if the Duke did not discharge the Mortgage within three years the Premises should be annexed to the Crown of France Besides this Sum the King promis'd to lend him another and gave him some hopes that he would not demand it again At this time there was a very great alteration of Affairs in England which happen'd in this manner Henry the Seventh King of England had two Sons Arthur and Henry Arthur married Catharine Daughter to Ferdinand King of Spain and died without Issue Henry the Father who desired the Alliance he had contracted with Spain might be continued procured a Dispensation from Pope Julius the Second and got Catharine contracted to his other Son who succeeded him in the Kingdom at his death in the year 1509. Henry the Eighth therefore who married this Lady soon after his Father died when he had reigned a great many years and was well setled in his Kingdom acquaints some of the Bishops that he was dissatisfied in his Conscience puts them upon an Enquiry whether it was lawful for a Man to marry his Brothers Relict and as it 's said abstain'd from the Queen's Bed for several months The Bishops by the King's Order discourse the Queen privately and acquaint her that
the Emperor also Nothing shall be required of either side for the Charges of the War. The Lantgrave and Vlrick oblige themselves to supply Ferdinand with five hundred Horse and 3000 Foot out of the Forces they have now in pay and to send them at their own Charge to the Siege of Munster where they shall swear Allegiance to Ferdinand and continue in his Service for three months if there be occasion Sabina Vlrick his Dutchess shall enjoy her Joynture without any Interruption Lastly this Treaty shall be ratify'd by the Nobility and all the Commons Munster a City of Westphalia which the Anabaptists had possess'd themselves of was besieged at that time as shall be shewed afterwards in its proper place Now to carry on this Siege Ferdinand required Supplies of them And here we may observe that at last when the Territory of Wirtemburg was almost all recover'd the mony was brought to the Duke which the French King agreed to lend upon the Mortgage though it 's true it was none of the King's fault that it came no sooner but his Treasurers who disliking the drawing of the Conveyance delayed the affair longer than his Majesty intended Now when the Peace was concluded and the Army disbanded the other mony came which the King promis'd to furnish him with without Security But before the year came about Vlrick paid off the Mortgage and redeem'd Mount Pellicarde As for the mony that was borrowed upon Honour which was no inconsiderable Sum the King made him a Present of it Peter Paul Vergerius the Pope's Nuncio took this Pacification very ill and reprimanded King Ferdinand in his Master Clement's Name for coming to an Accommodation with the Lutheran Princes The King told him he did it only to prevent greater Broils and Disturbances and that he was oblig'd to comply with the necessity of the times When Vlrick was banished his Country his Son Christopher was about four years of age who at first was Educated by William Duke of Bavaria his Uncle but afterwards he was sent to Inspruck a Town under Ferdinand his Jurisdiction And when the Emperor upon the Turk's retreat return'd into Italy which I have already mention'd Then this young Prince left the Emperor's Train and went into Bavaria which was hard by his Fathers Dominions being before advis'd and importun'd by his Relations and Friends to make this Escape For he being the only Heir it was thought the Austrian Party had a design to carry him into a foreign Country and make him a Clergy-Man But after his Father was restord he travelled into France and put himself into King's Service After things were accommodated the Lantgrave upon the 21st of July wrote to the Emperor into Spain by a Currier where he acquainted him with the Conditions of the Pacification and begg'd his Pardon for himself and Duke Vlrick and promis'd that both of them would pay his Majesty and King Ferdinand all Obedience for the future To this the Emperor returns him an answer from Valencia dated September the first in which he tells him that he had receiv'd an account of the whole business from his Brother Ferdinand To whom he had already declar'd his Resolution in writing and now had sent his Embassador to do it by word of mouth Therefore he referreth him to his Brother who would shortly acquaint him with his Clemency and Inclination to Peace afterwards he adviseth him to make good his promise and shew himself obedient and not to engage in any turbulent Designs During the Wars in the Dutchy of Wirtemburg Francis Sforza the Second Duke of Milan married Christina Daughter to Christiern the Captive King of Denmark and Niece to the Emperor by his Sister The French King was about to make War upon this Duke but the death of Clement the Seventh with whom he had lately entred into a League was thought to have hindred him from prosecuting his Design at present This Pope died at the later end of September of a distemper in his Stomach which had continu'd a great while upon him and was occasion'd by his altering his Diet in his old age which he did by the advice of his Physician Curtio Paul the Third of the House of Farnese was his Successor who not long after created Alexander and Ascanio Cardinals both of them his own Grandchildren and very much under the age of Manhood his natural Son Aloisio was Father to the former and the other was the Son of his Daughter Constanza Afterwards he recalls Vergerius out of Germany and enquires concerning the State of Religion there and consults with the Cardinals how they may prevent a National Council till by private and unsuspected Contrivances they have embroil'd the Emperor and other Princes in a War. At last he resolv'd to send Vergerius back into Germany to proffer that Nation a general Council as they call it More particularly his Instructions were to take care that his proceedings might not be like those of Clement fall under the suspicion of artifice and reserve and that he should go to all the Princes acquainting them that the Pope would call a Council at Mantua and there the Regulations of it should be setled But he was more especially to observe what Form the Protestants would insist upon in reference to the Qualifications Votings and Disputations of the Council that when this was known there might be such Terms and Laws imposed upon them which he was assur'd they would not consent to He also commanded him to exasperate the Princes of the Empire against the King of England whose Dominions he was now thinking to give to any Body that could Conquer them He was likewise to consider if there was no possible Expedient to bring over Luther and Melancton In this Consistory there were nine Cardinals and Bishops pitch'd upon to draw up a Form for the Reformation of Ecclesiastical Persons and Concerns which afterwards became publick as shall be discours'd in its place Now the reason why Vergerius was sent back into Germany was because King Ferdinand had recommended him to the Pope as a Person extraordinarily well qualified for the manage of that Employment At this time Andrew Grittus was Doge of Venice a Person of very great Reputation for his Prudence and Experience This Nobleman when he liv'd at Constantinople had a natural Son named Lewis who being brought up there from his Childhood and having by his singular Industry and Ingenuity rais'd a vast Estate and gain'd himself a considerable Interest by his Liberality got acquainted with the Courtiers first and afterwards by the Recommendation of Ibrahim the Grand Visier who then had the sole direction of Affairs was so well known to Solyman that he admitted him to a private Discourse And pursuing this lucky opportunity he worked himself so far into Solyman's Favour that at last he was sent into Hungary with a very splendid and numerous Attendance having a Commission to possess himself of that part of
far that they may not have a servile and obnoxious Council conven'd in a dangerous place but that things of that weight and importance in which the peace and welfare of the Church in general and every Person in particular is so much concern'd may be examin'd with Freedom and Security By appearing in this manner not only the present Age but all future Posterity will be mightily oblig'd to his Majesty and return him immortal Thanks for so great a Favour As to what his Excellency mov'd concerning a Conference of learned Men it deserves to be consider'd throughly and at leisure Besides being not aware of such a Proposal most of their Convention had no Commission to treat about it But as soon as they come to a determination in the Case they would write his Majesty an account of it for they desir'd nothing more than that Truth might be propagated as far as was possible Lastly they were very glad to hear his Majesty promise not to furnish out any Supplies against them and therefore neither would they assist his Enemies in any case where the Emperor and the Empire were unconcern'd This Embassador had private Conferences with Pontanus Melanchton with the Lantgraves Divines and James Sturmius concerning several Controversal Points where he told them what the King and the French Clergy especially those of Paris thought of each of them Particularly what their sense was concerning the Pope's Primacy the Eucharist the Mass and Invocation of departed Saints and Images what Notions they had about Purgatory Justification Monastick Vows and the Celibacy of the Clergy In most of these Controversies he said the King was inclinable to Melanchton's opinion in his Book Of Common Places Concerning the Pope he told them that the King and Philip were agreed for his Majesty did not believe his Holiness's Primacy was founded on Divine Right but Ecclesiastical Constitutions but the King of England would allow him neither one Right nor the other And truly the Pope hath pretended to more than his share in deposing Kings and Emperors at his Pleasure And they say he is about that Business now with the King of England notwithstanding the King his Master and several Cardinals had interceded with him to forbear Indeed the Divines say He is Head of the Church jure Divino but they fail'd in their proof when the King put them upon it They likewise defend the common Opinion concerning a fire in Purgatory For this Doctrin keeps up their Masses their Obits and Legacies and all the Trade they have upon those accounts But if the Mass was once put down their Authority would be sapp'd and the Vitals of their Grandeur wounded Now when the King had given these Gentlemen several months time to prove their Opinion about Purgatory by Scripture at last they gave him this Answer That it was not prudential to furnish their Adversaries with Arguments lest they should turn them upon themselves As to Monastery-Vows his Majesty believes he can prevail so far with this present Pope that young people shall not be engaged to that sort of life till they have reach'd their full age and that they may go off when they please and Marry But his Majesty does by no means think it convenient that those Societies should be dissolv'd but continu'd as Nurseries of Piety and Learning The Divines likewise press the Celibacy of the Clergy and here the King hath found out a middle Expedient That those who have Wives shall keep them but that others shall not have the liberty to Marry under pain of Suspension For to that which is usually urg'd concerning Paphnutius his perswading the Nicene Fathers that Priests might be married The Divines answer That it could not be prov'd that Matrimony was ever allow'd to Priests 'T is true before their Ordination they did not deny but that they were sometimes married Concerning the receiving the Lords Supper in both kinds the King had some discourse with Clement the Seventh about it and he hoped this Pope might be perswaded to make a Decree that every one might have the liberty to do as they thought fit Moreover his Majesty observ'd that within the memory of our Fathers the whole Communion was given in France to all persons without distinction indeed this was not done in the Bodies of the Church but in Chappels and Oratories This relation the King had from some very old Persons who affirm'd that this was the custom in France about 120 years ago Besides the French Kings receive in both kinds which practice when his Majesty objected to the Divines in Disputation they told him that Kings were anointed as well as Priests and that the Scripture mention'd A Royal Priesthood and that others who had none of these peculiar Reasons to plead could not have this liberty The King likewise owned that many passages in the publick Service of the Church ought to be corrected and some quite struck out That Clement the Seventh committed this affair to the care of Cardinal de la Cruz a Spaniard who printed a Book about it which the Parisian Divines condemn'd as Heretical For there is a sort of people among them who are not contented to cry out upon the Germans as Heterodox and wicked but let the same Censurers fly at the Cardinals and Popes themselves upon occasion And since the present Affair is so momentous and difficult in all the parts of it his Majesty is wholly intent upon it that the Peace of the Church may be recover'd He had likewise conferr'd with the Dukes of Bavaria to the same purpose who seem'd to him to be more rigid than the Divines of Paris though afterwards one of their Counsellors of State said that they were grown more moderate and the same thing was told him by Julius Phlugius concerning George Duke of Saxony and the Elector of Mentz The King therefore was of opinion that a publick Consultation was altogether necessary before the beginning of which if they pleas'd to send some few of their eminent Divines into France to confer with the Sorbonists his Majesty would take it very kindly and so order the Conference that some violent high-flying Men should be mixt with others of more temper and moderation that by this means the Truth might be wrought out and come to light When he had said this he desir'd that the Protestants would not accept of any place for a Council without his Majesties advice and the King of England's who would both of them return them the same Civility 'T is not many years ago since Lewis the Twefth of France insisted that the Pope could not call a Council without the consent of the Emperor and other Princes This was also the Opinion of the King of Navarre and when they were both Excommunicated by Julius Ferdinand of Spain seiz'd upon Navarre as Executioner of the Pope's Sentence Now the King his Master was of these Princes mind neither could he approve any Council unless it was held in a
safe unsuspected place where every one might freely speak his Conscience without danger Besides what I have mention'd he press'd them very earnestly to enter into a League with his Master indeed this was the principal reason of his Embassy But they insisting that they must except the Emperor whom they declar'd it was not lawful for them to Article against he concluded nothing with them and before he went away he told some Persons privately that he wondred they should refuse the Offer of sogreat a Prince and that there would come a time when they would heartily wish that they had gone in to his Interest Henry the Eighth of England also sent an Embassy to this Convention of which Edward Fox Bishop of Hereford was chief He began his Speech with telling them what a near Relation there was between the Kings of England and the Dukes of Saxony and that the King his Master had a great respect for his Electoral Highness and his Confederates especially since he saw their principal Design was to propagate the true Religion among their Neighbours And though they had a great many hard words given them upon this account yet these Reflections made no impression upon him neither did he believe them to be any other than good Men who would do nothing but what reason and their station oblig'd them to aiming only that the Gospel might be preach'd in its purity and God glorified by it This he said was also the King's Intention as appears sufficiently from the alteration which was lately made in England For now the greatest part of the Corruptions in the Church were removed by his Royal Command and the Pope's Supremacy and all his Legerdemain was banish'd the Kingdom by a general Consent no less than it was in Saxony And since there are the same Inclinations and Endeavours moving on both sides his Majesty hath a singular Esteem for them and desires them that they would go on as they have begun and unite in a general profession of the same Doctrin for this will lay a lasting foundation for Peace But how much diversity of Opinions are apt to embroil the State his Majesty is very sensible and the Anabaptists are a remarkable instance At this time the Pope pretends as if he was in earnest for a Council Now if there be any remaining Differences and they do not come up to an uniform Perswasion among themselves this will disorder their Measures when they are conven'd upon the place But here he would not be thought to reflect in the least upon their Divines for the Church was never so happy as to be perfectly free from Disputes no not in the Apostles times as appears from the clash there was between St. Peter St. Barnabas and St. Paul. We ought therefore to endeavour an Accommodation no farther than it 's warrantable by Scripture Now the Pope makes it his whole business to hinder the Church from agreeing upon such a Principle insomuch that as long as his cruel and tyrannical Government continues his Majesty despairs of seeing a Reconciliation For now this Idol this Antichrist rageth like a mad Man only because the English have lately thrown off the most scandalous Slavery and recover'd their Liberty by the King's assistance And being not able to attempt any thing by force he betakes himself to Artifice and Fraud and by forging false Accusations against his Majesty endeavours to provoke other Princes to make War upon him For though he will stick at nothing to keep up his pretended Authority yet now his particular Design is to exasperate both sides and set all in a Flame This his Majesty was willing to acquaint them with not that he feared the Pope for he was so well prepar'd that he neither valu'd him nor his whole Party but only that they might see what Antichrist was doing especially at this time when he seems so earnest for a Council though he meaneth nothing less 'T is true his Majesty grants that a regular Debate is singularly useful and very much for the advantage of Christendom but then all imaginable Care must be taken that such a Council be not conven'd as will manage the whole Controversie only for the establishment of the Pope's Greatness Therefore he entreats them they would take his advice and not allow of any Council till all Christian Princes were at Peace with each other withall desiring that the true Worship of God might be restored and that he was willing to engage with them for the compleating and support of so pious an undertaking These things he told them his Instructions obliged him to deliver publickly But besides he desired that he might discourse this affair farther in private with some persons deputed for that purpose For his Highness the King had that regard for Religion and themselves that he was ready to venture his Person and all his Fortunes in the Cause To this after some Ceremony passed upon the King for shewing himself so obliging and well disposed they answer That they desire nothing so much as that the Doctrin of the Gospel might be spread far and near that whatever they did in this case was done out of a principle of Duty And notwithstanding they have been affronted and injured in the grossest manner though they have highly disobliged Persons of the most considerable Interest though they have been often swagger'd at and meanced upon this account yet they have not slackned their industry and pursuit of the Holy Design Now the reason of all this violent and intemperate rage against them is only because they have taken the liberty to reject some false and wicked Opinions Now his Majesties promising so frankly to concur with them in this Work and his expelling the Popes Tyranny his Dominions which is the Spring-Head of all his wicked and erroneous Worship is very acceptable News to them and their Prayers to God are that he may still proceed They also return his Majesty many Thanks for his advice to them to take care of the ill Consequences of different Opinions but really there was no disagreement among them and they were resolved by Gods grace to continue in the same Religion they had profess'd at Ausburgh As to the Anabaptists they punish'd them severely when they could not be prevailed with to give over their Extravagance Besides this Sect domineer'd most in those places where the reformed Religion was prohibited What his Excellency discoursed concerning the Pope's Politick Designs gave them great satisfaction And now he had a Nuncio in Germany who promised a Council should be called at Mantua and had treated with the Elector of Saxony about it Now the Answer which they returned by common Advice to his Proposals was set down in a Paper a Copy of which should be delivered to his Excellency for the King that his Majesty might understand what their Thoughts were in this Case This Nuncio pretends as if it belonged only to the Pope to intimate and convene Councils But
they conceive other Princes and States will not yield him this Point without asking them leave especially at this juncture when so many Articles of Faith are concern'd and the cause of Religion lies at Stake so that now if ever a regular Examination of the matter ought to be secured And whereas his Excellency mentioned the Kings desire of an Alliance with them they are abundantly thankful to his Majesty for it And are resolved that neither pains nor danger shall discourage them from endeavouring to carry on the Progress of the Reformation not doubting but God Almighty will preside over the whole Action and make it successful notwithstanding all the opposition of their Adversaries And because he desires to treat more at large in private about this affair they had commissionated certain Persons to confer with his Excellency to whom he might impart what he had farther in Charge And lastly They request him to report their Answer to his Majesty and let him know how ready they are to serve him Upon the 12th of December the Elector of Saxony came to Smalcalde from King Ferdinand and upon Christmass-Eve they renewed the League which was within a twelve-month of expiring for ten years more Here also they setled those things which were necessary for its defence and agreed to receive all those into their Association who had a mind to it provided they would consent to the Ausburgh Confession and submit to the common charge and circumstances of the rest of the Confederates Those who were for engaging were the two Princes of Pomeren Robert of the House of Bavaria and Duke of Zweibrucken the Cities of Frankfurt Ausburgh Kempton Hamburgh and Hannover some of these desired to be admitted at present and the others gave them hopes of coming in afterwards Concerning the Chamber of Spire they came to this Resolution That in regard King Ferdinand had promised to ratifie the Pacification agreed by the Emperor they should all of them make use of this defence if they should happen to be cited by the Judges But if they would go on notwithstanding and fall a proscribing and press the Execution of their Sentence Then the Protestants were to publish a remonstrance in the name of the whole Confederacy in which the States of the Empire were to be desired and advised not to take any notice of the unreasonable Proceedings of the Chamber but to stand to what the Emperor and King Ferdinand have determined in the Case and to look upon such Sentences as these as null and illegal without offering violence to any Person upon this account For otherwise they must be forced to take satisfaction for the injury and to resolve upon a way to secure themselves and their Allies It was likewise agreed that the Article of the Pacification at Nuremburgh which provided that no Man should be forcibly disseized of his Estate should be punctually observed but with this construction That it should be lawful for them to reform what was amiss in the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the Ceremonies and in other things of the like Nature At the same time William Count Naâ—â—aw was admitted into the League where though the Lantgrave would not give his consent because both of them laid claim to Catzenellobogen yet he declared that if the Earl was invaded upon the account of his being a Protestant he would assist him upon his request This year also the Senate of Ausburgh after a long contest came to a unanimous resolution for the reformed Religion and wrote to Luther desiring him to send Vrbanus Regius and some other faithful Pastors of the Church to them THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK X. The CONTENTS Bernard Rotman by his Preaching and private Perswasions prevails upon Munster to receive the reformed Religion Which made the Roman Catholicks and their Bishops leave the Town in a Disgust Notwithstanding by the mediation of the Lantgrave both parties are reconciled upon Articles John of Leyden a violent Anabaptist comes thither brings a great many over to his Opinion even Rotman himself and at last infects the Town with his Frensy to that degree that his Sect grew uppermost and introduced Polygamy and community of Goods After the death of their Head Prophet John Matthews John of Leyden succeeds in the Primacy and soon after they make him their King. The Barbarities of his Government and his Antick State described During the Siege of the Town a Convention is appointed at Coblentz to decree a speedy reinforcement of the Army The Anabaptists write to the Lantgrave and send him a Book wherein they explain their Doctrin at large the Confutation of which had already been undertaken by Luther At last the Town being straitned in Provisions is taken by Storm A Convention meets at Wormes to settle affairs there after its reduction The King and his Companions are taken A relation of their Execution The Duke of Savoy makes War upon the State of Geneva and is beaten The French King invades part of his Dominions to facilitate his Conquest of the Duchy of Milan upon this occasion the pretentions of the King to that Duchy are examined The Emperor understanding those things comes to Rome and chargeth the King with breach of Articles and presseth the intimation of a Council The Protestants make a League with the King of England The Pope intimates a Council at Mantua A War breaketh out between the Emperor and the French King. The Siege of Peronne The Arch-Bishop of Cologne reformeth his Church Erasmus dieth The French King his Daughter married to the King of Scotland The Duke of Florence murthered by Treachery The Swiss's Embassy to the French King to intercede for those of the Religion who are imprisoned The Town and Castle of Hesdin is surrendred Cardinal Pool is sent Embassador to the French King. I Am now to proceed to the Siege of Munster and I shall give an account of those Occurrences which happen'd from the beginning of the Siege till that time in which the Town was taken and the Authors of the Sedition punish'd In the first Book I gave a relation of Thomas Muncer how he Preached the Mobile into Sedition what his Tenets were and what end he came to From this Mans discipling there sprung a race of Men who from their Doctrin and Practices are called Anabaptists For they will not suffer Children to be Baptized and are rebaptized themselves affirming that all People ought to follow their example and that their former Baptism is wholly invalid Their Actions have an appearance of Holiness in them They assert that it is not lawful for Christians to go to Law nor to bear any Office of Magistracy nor to swear nor have any property but that all things ought to be possess'd in common These were the singular Doctrins they maintained at first but afterwards they broached others of a much more pernicious Consequence of which I shall speak hereafter Now when these People had spread
behaviour and condition of the Citizens protect the Innocent and slight the Fortifications which the Anabaptists had rais'd The Bishop also was to demolish those Forts he had built in the Town and to punish the Captives the King Knipperdoling and Creching according to their deserts with the first opportunity and not to keep them any longer Concerning that which was decreed about Religion the Elector of Saxony the Lantgrave the Duke of Wirtemburgh and Earl of Anhalt openly remonstrated against it the same Protestation was made by the Cities besides they were not willing the old Fortification of the Town should be raz'd as concerning the new ones they had nothing to object The King and his two fellow Prisoners were carry'd up and down the Country to the Princes to shew and expose them this gave some of the Lantgraves Preachers an opportunity of conversing with the King with whom they dispute chiefly these following Points viz. concerning the Kingdom of Christ concerning Magistracy Justification Baptism the Lord's Supper the Incarnation of Christ and Matrimony and here though he defended himself with obstinacy enough yet they press'd him so hard with Testimonies of Scripture that though he did not yield in every thing yet they made him bend and let go his hold insomuch that at last he gave up the greatest part of the Cause which some think he did only to save his life For when they came to him again he promis'd upon condition of being pardon'd that he would engage to oblige the Anabaptists who were very numerous in Holland Brabant England and Friezland to give over Preaching and to obey the Magistrates in every thing Afterwards these Divines argued with his Companions both by word of mouth and writing concerning Mortification the Baptism of Infants Community of Goods and the Kingdom of Christ When they were brought to Telget the Bishop demands of the King by what Authority he could justifie the liberty he had taken in his Town and with his Subjects To whom he replies in a question Who gave him the Jurisdiction over the City When the Bishop made answer That he was chosen into this Government by the consent of the Chapter and the People The other replies That he was call'd to this Office by God. Upon the 19th of Jan. they are brought back to Munster and committed to distinct Prisons upon the same day likewise the Bishop came to Town with the Archbishop of Cologn and the Embassadors of the Duke of Cleve The two following days were spent in pious Exhortations to bring them off from their Error Now the King did own his fault and prayed to our Saviour but the other two would not acknowledge that they had done any thing amiss but obstinately defended their Opinions The next day the King was brought out into a place whose situation was higher than ordinary and tied to a Stake there were two Executioners by him with red-hot Pincers He was silent for the three first snatches but afterwards he did nothing but cry out to God for Mercy when he had been torn in this manner above the space of an hour he was run through the Body with a Sword and so died His Companions had the same punishment When they were dead they were each of them fasten'd to an Iron-Cage and hung at the top of the Tower in the City the King hangs in the middle and about a Man's height higher than the other two In January this year Catherine of Spain died who Henry King of England had divorc'd above three years since as I observ'd before In the Fourth Book I gave an account how Frederick Duke of Holstein was made King of Denmark by the assistance of the Lubeckers When he was dead there happen'd to be a very troublesome War between his Son and Successor Christian and the Lubeckers but by the mediation of the Elector of Saxony of the Lantgrave and Earnest Duke of Luenburgh of the Towns of Bremen Hamburgh Magdeburgh Brunswick Lunenburgh and Hildesheim the Quarrel was at last taken up this year in February At that time the Duke of Savoy was engag'd in a War with Geneva being assisted in it or rather provoked to it by the Bishop of that City partly because the Reformed Religion was introduced there partly for other reasons Now the Citizens of Geneva were Allies of the Canton of Bern who assisting them at last with their whole Forces the Enemy was beaten off and oblig'd to retreat and the Caenton-men of Bern pursuing them as far as the Lake Leman seiz'd upon as much of the Dukes Country as lay convenient for their Frontiers the same thing was done by the rest of the Switzers which joyn upon Savoy During this Action the French King who long before intended to make War in Italy especially after the death of Francis Sforza whom we mention'd before levies an Army in the beginning of the Spring and falls upon the Duke of Savoy who was his Uncle He grounded his Quarrel upon his Claim to an Inheritance which he said belong'd to him but was seiz'd on by the other The Duke of Savoy being weaken'd before and unable to Match so powerful an Enemy was outed of most of his Dominions in a short time For the King passing over the Alpes invades Piedmont and besides other Conquests takes Turin the Capital City of that Country and fortifies it with new Works and a Garison the Command of the Army in this Action being given to Philip Chabot Admiral of France The Duke of Savoy was married to Beatrix Daughter to Emanuel late King of Portugal and the Emperor to Isabella Sister to John who now Reigns and whereas formerly he had kept himself Neuter now by seeming to incline to the Emperor's side he provok'd the French King to break with him who was his Nephew by his own Sister Louise Some say Pope Clement when he was at Marseilles of which I gave account in the last Book gave the King this Council That if ever he intended to recover Millain his way was first to possess himself of Savoy and Turen However this was the next year the King sets a new Custom on foot and raiseth a standing Army of Foot to the number of about forty thousand which being quarter'd in several Provinces were to be kept in Discipline and always to be ready for Service upon occasion And as the French Kings had formerly been very considerable for their Cavalry which they always kept in pay He was resolv'd to add a well-disciplined Infantry to them that he might not always be oblig'd to hire foreign Soldiers The King's design was to March his Army into the Neighbouring State of Millain to recover that Dutchy which he had formerly been possess'd of for six years together and claim'd it as the Inheritance of him and his Children in the right of Valentina his great Grandmother who was Daughter to Philip Visconti the last Duke of Millain of that Family The Pedigree runs thus
The Family of the Visconties is remarkably Noble in the Dutchy Otho is reckon'd the first of this Line who was Archbishop of Millain and in the Reign of Rodolph the Emperor expell'd the Turiani who were a Noble and Illustrious Family After his death the Command of the Town fell to Mathew his Nephew by his Brother Theobald The next in Succession were Galeaze Actio Luchino John Mathew the Second Galeaze the Second Barnabas John Galeaze who was made first Duke of Millain by Wenceslaus the Emperor This Galeaze had two Sons John and Philip who died without lawful Issue and a Daughter Valentina Francis Sforza who was a Man of a Military Profession and base Son of James marries the natural Daughter of Philip and under that colour seizeth upon the Dutchy of Millain and bars Valentina the Sister of Philip who was married to Lewis Duke of Orleance Brother to Charles the Sixt of France Sforza had Issue Galeaze Lodowick and Ascanio Lodowick made himself Master of the Government by Violence and had Issue Maximilian and Francis The Duke of Orleance had Charles Philip and John by Valentina Charles was the Father of Lewis Duke of Orleance who was afterwards King of France and the Twelfth of that Name Philip left no Children John Duke of Angoulesme begot Charles who was Father to King Francis who took Maximilian Sforza Prisoner and possess'd himself of the Dutchy of Millain But Leo the Tenth and the Emperor beat him out and restor'd Francis Sforza who was banish'd after whose death King Francis to recover and vindicate his Right begins a new War because as soon as Sforza was dead the Emperor possess'd himself of the Dutchy of Millain by the Conduct of Antonio Leva whom he made his Lieutenant and left him there for the Security of the Country when he set sail for Africk which we mention'd before Therefore as soon as he understood the King's design he rais'd as considerable an Army in Germany and other places as he could and orders it to March into Italy And coming from Naples to Rome a few days after he desires he might have a Consistory call'd where in a full Assembly of Cardinals the Pope being present and the Embassadors of Foreign Princes he makes a smart and violent Speech against the French King by whose inveterate Malice and treacherous breakings of his League he was hindred and oppos'd in his most excellent and religious Designs The conclusion of his Harangue was that he was ready to fight him in a Duel being desirous that the War might rather be ended with the private inconvenience of that King or himself than continued to Plague the whole World. Before he left Naples the Venetians made a League with him against the Turk which they were the more inclinable to do because they hoped he would resign the Dutchy of Millain to some Person or other For the rest of the Princes of Italy and especially themselves were unwilling that the French or the Emperor should be enrich'd with so large a Principality For this reason of late years they had often combin'd together sometimes against the French King and sometimes against the Emperor that Francis Sforza might be restor'd because they apprehended less danger from him For the motive why Pope Clement and the Venetians ten years before entred into a League against the Emperor was because upon the Expulsion of Sforza they suspected he would challenge the whole State of Millain for himself which they conceiv'd would be very prejudicial to their Interest and about seven years before when he restor'd Sforza at Bologna at the Intercession of Clement he gained wonderfully upon the Affections of Italy The Emperor also at Naples married his natural Daughter to Alexander de Medice whom he had made Duke of Florence as was related in the Seventh Book This Alexander was the natural Son of Laurence de Medices whose Father was Peter whom in the former Book was mention'd to have been drown'd at the mouth of the River Garigliano In the former Book I gave an account why Vergerius was sent into Germany Now when the Emperor was come to Naples the Pope recalls him upon which he returns to Rome with all speed and makes a Report of his Embassy viz. That the Protestants demanded a free and Christian Council and that in a convenient place within the Territories of the Empire which the Emperor had promis'd they should have Concerning Luther and his Party there was no hopes of doing any good upon them but by suppressing them To that motion relating to the King of England the Protestants would by no means agree and the rest of the Princes were very cold Indeed George Duke of Saxony did say That their greatest danger was from the Protestants which was no ways to be avoided unless the Emperor and Pope joyn'd in a War against them as soon as was possible When the Pope understood this he dispatcheth away Vergerius for Naples with all speed that he might relate these things to the Emperor especially that about making War upon the Lutherans When the Emperor came to Rome which was in the Month of April as was observ'd before he very much insisted upon the intimation of the Council and desir'd he might carry away a Bull with him to that purpose The Pope told him That he was not against a Council but then he would have the choice of some Town in Italy and prescribe those Conditions which were necessary for the Roman-Church The Emperor reply'd That provided he would hold a Council he should not value any other Dispute for he would oblige the greatest part of Germany to comply with him in the rest The Pope therefore chooses nine out of the Consistory to draw up the Bull. Who were Campegio Cesio Simoneta Ginuccio Contareni and Pool Cardinals The Archbishop of Brundisi the Bishop of Rheggio and Vergerius just then made Bishop of Modrusch and not long after of Capo d'Istria All these Persons draw up a Form for the intimating the Council first in the Popes presence afterwards by themselves as will be observ'd afterwards I have already made mention of the English Embassadors with whom there was a Treaty on foot at Smalcalde upon these following Conditions That the King should propagate the Doctrin of the Gospel in its Purity as it was propos'd at Ausburgh and afterwards explain'd and joyn with them in the defence of it in a lawful Council if any such was call'd That neither Party should allow of the Intimation or place of the Council but by common consent However if it appear'd by good and unquestionable Reasons that there would be such a Council held as Paul Peter Vergerius had offer'd to demonstrate then it should not be refus'd But if the Pope notwithstanding would go on in his old way then his design should be oppos'd and remonstrated against by a publick Protestation As his Majesty had united himself to them in Doctrin so he should be desirous
to come into their League and be stiled the Patron and Defender of it That the common opinion of the Pope's Supremacy should be for ever disown'd If there was War made upon either of them upon the score of Religion or for any other reason then the Aggressor was to have no assistance The King should pay an hundred thousand Crowns towards the defence of the League the moyety of which Sum the Confederates may lay out whenever their occasions shall require it but shall be oblig'd to defray the rest of the Charge out of their own Contributions And if the War happens to be of any long continuance and the Forces of the Enemy make it necessary the King shall assist them with two hundred thousand Crowns since when things come to that extremity they have oblig'd themselves not only to spend their Fortunes but their Lives too This latter sum should be manag'd the same way with the former and not be turn'd to any other use than their own Defence and when the War was ended the remainder should be return'd The Embassadors should write the King their Master an account of these Articles and when they understood his Resolution they should acquaint the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave with it to the end that afterwards an Embassy in the Name of all the Confederates might be sent to him As soon as the Embassadors had sent away these Proposals to the King they remove to Wittemburgh where they spent the rest of the Winter during which time they argu'd with the Town-Divines concerning the Doctrins then controverted The main of their Disputation was about the Celibacy of the Clergy the Lord's Supper the Popish-Mass and the Vows of the Religious particularly they desir'd the Divines would give their Approbation of the King's Divorce but they answer'd That the Scripture would not allow them to do this when the other offer'd several Arguments to perswade them particularly that Pope Clement had been of different Opinions in this matter and had declar'd his Sentiments in a private Conference with the French King The Divines reply'd That if the case stood thus the King had great cause to do what he did but when they were urg'd to say he had most just cause they refus'd it As soon as the Embassadors had receiv'd the King's Letters out of England in which he explain'd his mind upon the Point they acquaint the Elector with it And upon the 12th day of March at Wittemburgh whither the Duke was then come they enlarge themselves very much upon the King 's good Inclinations to the Cause and that he was satisfi'd with most of the Articles if some few things were amended in them and notwithstanding all things were quiet in England and the King had no reason to fear any Person for if there were formerly any grounds for such apprehensions they were now remov'd by the death of his Wife which was divorc'd yet to recover and settle the true Doctrin if the Alliance went on he was not unwilling to furnish them with that Sum of Mony which they desir'd and intended to discourse this Point farther by word of mouth with their Embassadors As for the Honour which they offer'd him of being Defender and Patron of their League he acknowledg'd their kindness and return'd them many thanks for it and though he was sensible what an invidious and disobliging Title this was yet for the sake of the Common Good he would not decline it provided the first and the second Article were accommodated For unless there was an agreement in Doctrin between them he was of opinion that this Undertaking would not be consistent with his Honour That he was extreamly desirous that the Learned of his own and their Dominions might be brought to a Uniformity of Opinion And since he saw this could not be done unless some Points of Doctrin in their Confession and Apology were first qualifi'd in a private Conference therefore he earnestly desir'd they would send their Embassadors to him and among the rest some one eminently Learned with power to debate and determine the whole Doctrin and Ceremonies And in regard he has been so liberal in his concessions he desires by way of return First If any one makes War upon him that they would supply him for four Months either with five hundred Horse or ten Ships well equipped Secondly That they would procure him at his own charge two thousand Horse and five thousand Foot. Lastly That they themselves would publickly approve the Opinion of the Divines of Wittemburgh concerning the Divorce and defend it in the Council which was to be call'd The Elector of Saxony answer'd That this Affair concern'd all the Allies and therefore he must consult them soon after they all agree to meet at Frankford upon the twenty fourth of April both about this and other business When they came thither they answer'd the Embassadors that notwithstanding some were just then receiv'd into the League and others upon the account of their distance from home had no power to determine because they could not report the matter to their Principals yet they would take care that the Embassy to the King should be setled and regulated in this Meeting and that those who were not empowred to conclude any thing now should declare their mind to the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave within a Month which should be immediately communicated to their Excellencies at what place they should please to appoint neither did they question but that this part of their Allies would approve the Embassy and be willing to be concluded by the Majority Afterwards they drew up the Commission of their Embassadors who were to go for England in which among other things it was provided that when they were arriv'd and came to Treat about the League they should in every point they agreed to expresly except the Empire and Emperor to whom they were bound to be subject both by their Oaths and Allegiance James Sturmius was design'd to represent the Cities in this Embassy The Divines were Melancthon Bucer and George Draco At this Meeting there were admitted into the League Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburgh Bernin and Philip his Brother Dukes of Pomeren George and Joachim his Brother Earls of Anhalt as also Ausburgh Frank furt Campodune Hamburgh and Hannover Other things were likewise debated relating to the League the method of their defence and the proceedings of the Imperial Chamber They also decreed to send some Persons to wait upon the Emperor with an Answer in writing to his Letter which was dated at Naples which I mention'd in the former Book I have frequently related already how violently averse George Duke of Saxony was to Luther's Doctrin Now this being the occasion of a great many Disputes between him and his Uncle the Elector of Saxony the Father of this present Elector at last the matter was thus compromis'd That there should be no misunderstanding between them upon the account
of Religion but that they should proceed in that Affait in such a manner as they thought was accountable before God Almighty and that their Vassals who held of either or both Princes should enjoy their Property as formerly notwithstanding any difference of Religion For we are to observe that both these Princes have their Territories intermix'd which was so contriv'd on purpose by their Ancestors that they might be the better dispos'd to live peaceably together in regard neither of them could make War upon the other without prejudice to his own Country and Subjects But the Duke not minding this Agreement depriv'd some Ecclesiasticks belonging to the Elector's Jurisdiction of the Revenue of their Lands which they were possess'd of in his Country because they had turn'd Lutherans And for the same reason disseiz'd those who held both of his Consin and himself of their Estates contrary to all former Usage and Custom After the Electors death John Frederick his Son wrote to him and put him in mind of his Agreement but he return'd him a disobliging Answer and besides other Objections reflected severely upon him for his falling off from the Church the Pope and the Emperor Now after the Treaty which was set on Foot this year to take up the Quarrel prov'd ineffectual as several had done before The Elector lays the whole matter before his Allies in the Assembly and in case the Duke and his Adherents should offer him any Violence he desires they would assist him with their Advice and Fortunes afterwards upon the Tenth of May the Convention was dismiss'd In the beginning of June Anne of Bullein by whom the King of England had one Daughter Elizabeth was beheaded being condemn'd of Adultery and Incest This accident broke off the Embassy which was design'd for England After the War was grown hot between the Emperor and the French King Pope Paul the Third publish'd a Bull of the following Contents From the time that God had pleas'd to promote him to the Honour of his present Station he desir'd nothing more earnestly than that by his own Vigilance and the assistance of the Holy Spirit the Church which was committed to his Care might be purg'd from those Heresies and Errors which some while since have sprung up and spread themselves in it and also by a Reformation in Manners and Discipline it might recover its former Condition For now to his great grief it was miserably rent in pieces by Civil Wars and the Artifices of wicked Men and being very solicitous how to find out a Remedy for this great Evil he could think of no other way more commodious than that which had been always us'd by the Church in such cases that is a general Council this was the method which he always formerly approv'd and since he was rais'd to his present Dignity he still continued of the same mind with which he had by Letters acquainted the Emperor and other Princes several times and now at last had fully resolv'd upon this Expedient hoping it would prove effectual not only to clear the Lord's Field of Heresies but also to remove the Misunderstandings of Princes and settle a lasting Peace among them that so being at leisure to fight the common Enemy of our Faith Christendom might recover its own those who were taken Captives might be releas'd from a miserable Slavery Infidels converted to our Religion and all People brought within the Pale of the Church For these Considerations by vertue of the Power he was entrusted with and by the consent of his Brethren the Cardinals he does intimate a general Council of all Christendom to be held upon 23d day of May next ensuing at Mantua a rich and commodious place that all Persons repairing thither against that time the Council may be open'd Therefore he commands all Bishops and Prelates of what place soever under the Penalties decreed by the Canon to be present there at the time appointed As for the Emperor and other Kings and Princes who either by right or custom have the Priviledge of being present at Councils he does both advertize and conjure them by Christ that for the sake of the common Interest they would be there themselves or if their affairs would not give them leave to send an honourable Embassy thither with large Commissions and in as much as all Orders and Degrees are concern'd in their being present he hopes that the Emperor and the French King especially will not absent themselves As touching the Emperor he had sufficiently express'd his religious forwardness already and several times solicited Clement the Seventh about a Council both in his own name and in the name of his Brother Ferdinand and of the Princes of the Empire But this Design being interrupted by Wars and other accidents intervening especially by the death of Clement himself he at the very beginning of his Popedom had acquainted the Emperor with his Intentions to whom they were very acceptable He had also written to the French King who return'd him a friendly and obliging Answer having before sent a very religious Letter to Clement and the Conclave of Cardinals in which he declar'd what his Inclinations and Opinion was in this matter However if they could not come themselves he desires that they would command those of their own Subjects who might be present to repair thither or if for good reasons they were oblig'd to absent themselves the sufficiency of which excuses ought to be made apparent then they were to depute Proxies who were to stay at Mantua till the whole Debate was ended to the end that by the Decrees made in that Assembly the Church might be reform'd and recover her ancient Splendor Heresies wholly extirpated and a War made upon the Enemies of our Religion And because some Persons are concern'd in this writing to whom it cannot be publish'd without danger therefore that none may pretend ignorance he hath thought fit to have it openly recited in the Church of St. Peter and the Lateran and afterwards to be affixed to such places in the Town as are proper and usual upon such occasions This Bull was subscrib'd by six and twenty Cardinals Upon the 7th of June Ferdinand King of the Romans sends James Sturcell a Laywer from Inspruck upon an Embassy to the Switzers I understand says he the French King has solicited you for Supplies but obtain'd nothing which I was extreamly glad to hear and have acquainted the Emperor with it indeed it was very reasonable he should be so serv'd for the Emperor gave no manner of occasion to this War and was fully resolv'd to fight the Barbarians and Enemies of our Religion this Summer But the French King immediately upon the death of Francis Sforza Duke of Millain though he has no right to that Principality though he had agreed the whole matter some few years since begun to project a War and broke his Articles demanding the Restitution of the Dutchy and threatning if he had not
it was once over That Letter which I mention'd the Emperor to have wrote in July was answer'd by the Protestants upon the 9th of September In which they acquaint him that his writing so courteously and frankly was matter of great pleasure and satisfaction to them For notwithstanding they did believe he would make good his Promises yet both because they had heard several Reports of his being displeas'd and because the Imperial-Chamber and other Courts of Justice had practis'd many ways against them without any regard to the Peace they had some reason to be a little doubtful and solicitous but now since he had declar'd his Mind in such an open obliging manner they did not in the least question but that he would perform every thing to the full and take away all occasions of Calumny from ill dispos'd minds which they for their parts should likewise endeavour to do and not give any farther credit to those who went about to possess them with other thoughts of his Majesty and in all other things they would take care to do that which became their Duty And notwithstanding the News of the Council which the Pope has summon'd to Mantua upon the 23th of May following is publickly known and call'd at his Majesties Solicitation as the Bull intimates which is so obcurely drawn that they cannot collect what the Conditions or Form of the Council will be yet since they have always earnestly desir'd there might be a free and religious Council conven'd in Germany since this Request of theirs was made a Decree both in the Imperial Diets and at the Pacification at Nuremburgh and since they had expresly and largely insisted upon this Point before his Majesty's and Pope Clement's Embassadors about three years agon they were entirely confident that he would manage this Affair in a legal unexceptionable way This month the Pope publish'd another Bull in which he professeth that in the mean time while the Council was convening it was his intention to reform the holy City of Rome the Head of all the Christian World and the Mistress of Doctrin Manners and Discipline that he would make a clear riddance of all her Vices and Uncleanliness that his own House being first put into order he might the more easily cleanse the rest Now the weakness of Humane Nature being such that it was impossible for him to dispatch this Affair wholly by himself and at the same time to manage other Concerns relating to the Commonwealth of Christendom therefore he had chosen a certain number of Cardinals whom God Almighty had made his Assistants and Coparteners in the Offices and Care of his Station to perform this necessary and profitable Work viz. the Cardinals of Ostia St. Severino Ginuccio Simoneta together with the Bishop of Cassano Nusco and Aix To these Commissioners all Persons are commanded to be Obedient under severe Penalties In October the Emperor set Sail from Genoa and return'd into Spain And soon after the French King came to Paris and upon the first of January married his eldest Daughter Magdalene to James the First King of Scotland who came into France the last Autumn Much about the same time Laurence de Medices treacherously murther'd Alexander de Medices Duke of Florence his Kinsman and near Relation after he had drawn him into his House in the night under pretence that he would help him to the enjoyment of a Noble Matron and Neighbour of his who was the most remarkable Lady of the whole Town for the reputation of her Beauty and Chastity After he was taken off the Government fell into the hands of Cosmus de Medices who afterwards with the Emperor's leave married Eleonora Daughter of Peter of Toledo Vice-Roy of Naples Upon the sixth of January the French King came into the Court where the Parliament of Paris was held which he us'd to do but seldom and in a very full Assembly made a very sharp Complaint of the Emperor and gave his Reasons why the Provinces of Flanders and Artois which the Emperor and his Ancestors held as Homagers under the French Kings ought to be recover'd to the Crown of France The Speech was made by Capel the King's Advocate who called him Charles of Austria instead of Emperor In the mean time the Cantons of Zurick Bern Basil and the Strasburgers Intercede with the French King for those who were Imprison'd for their Religion and desir'd him that he would recall those whom he had banish'd Now the King had given those who were in Exile leave to return and those in Prison their Liberty with this Proviso That they would abjure the Crimes charged upon them before the Bishops or their Vicars and give Security for their Behaviour for the future But this Condition the Switzers Ambassadors desired might be wholly remitted something of the rigour of which was relax'd at their instance however the King did not give them satisfaction in the answer which he sent them Feb. 24. by Anne Momorency Lord High Steward of his Houshold whom they suspected to have perswaded the King to be less king in this Point than otherwise he would have been The Embassadors made their Interest by the Queen of Navar who was the King's Sister a most incomparable Lady and very well affected to the true Religion In the mean time the King was making his Levies and in the beginning of March leads his Army into Artois and besiegeth the Town and Castle of Hesdin which was very well fortifi'd and within a month it was surrendred to him About this time Reginald Poole an Englishman lately made a Cardinal and of a very Noble Family was sent from the Pope to the King in Quality of Nuncio The occasion of his coming was suppos'd to be the forming of some new Design against the King of England When the King of Scotland married the French King's Daughter the Pope sent him a fine Sword of great value and tried to whet him up against the King of England Now the Popes have a custom upon Christmas-Eve to Consecrate as they call it a great many things with a certain Form of Ceremonies and amongst the rest a Sword which as a mark of Friendship and Respect they either deliver themselves or send to any Person they have a mind to Sixtus quartus is said to be the beginner of this Custom as their Book of Ceremonies hath it Afterwards Poole wrote a Book which he call'd A Defence of Ecclesiastical Vnity He addresseth himself in it to King Henry and reprimands him very sharply for making himself Head of the Church For that Office he told him belonged to none but the Pope of Rome who is the Vicar of Christ and the Successor of Peter whom Christ constituted Prince of the Apostles For it was he alone who answered That Christ was the Son of God. Upon this Apostle as upon a Rock Christ builded his Church It was for his Faith that Christ prayed That when he was converted
he would also convert his Brethren He said that St. John was always obedient to St. Peter after the death of Christ and when they both ran to the Sepulcher he would not go in first but gave the precedency to the other To him Christ gave the Charge of feeding his Sheep in a more especial manner besides when the Net was full of Fishes and a great many of them could not stir it Peter alone drew it a shore Then he proceeds to the business of the Divorce where he tells the King That it was not the terrors of Conscience and the dread of the Divine Displeasure as he pretended but Lust and an ungovernable Appetite which made him part with his Wife Catherine whom his Brother Arthur an infirm Youth of fourteen years of age had left a Virgin That it was not lawful for him to marry Anne Bullein whose Sister he had kept as his Miss before That Catherine was a Maid himself had confess'd to several Persons particularly to the Emperor But he falls violently upon him for writing to so many Universities for their Opinion concerning his first Marriage and for being pleas'd with the sense of his former uncleanness when some told him That Match was Incestuous That it was a most scandalous thing for him to prefer the Daughter of a Strumpet before a most excellent young Lady lawfully begotten Then he goes on to the Execution of the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moore where he enlargeth himself and declaims very tragically against the cruelty of it From whence he proceeds to tell the King how he had oppress'd and impoverish'd all degrees of Men and made a most flourishing Kingdom miserable and what danger he was in from the Emperor for divorcing his Aunt and subverting Religion and what little reason he had to expect any Foreign or Domestick Assistance who had behav'd himself so ill towards the Commonwealth Then he applies himself to the Emperor and makes use of a great many words to provoke him to revenge such a notorious Affront put upon his Family and saith That the Seeds of Turcism are scatter'd about England and Germany meaning the Antipapal Doctrin At last after he had charg'd his Prince with a great many Crimes and almost call'd him all to naught he exhorts him to repent and tells him There was no other remedy to be had but by returning to the bosom of the Church which he had formerly defended in print and therein given a most admirable example This Book was publish'd without any date at Rome and lay conceal'd a long time at last a great many years after one or two in Germany got it The occasion of his writing he saith was because the King formerly desir'd it And though a great many learned Men in England who had done the same thing had lost ther Lives yet he was so much oblig'd by his Highness that he could not perswade himself to dissemble his thoughts for both his temper and way of living had made him very averse to that Vice and therefore what he had said ought not to be attributed to passion or ill will on the contrary since he endeavour'd to bring him into his way again and to rescue him from those Flatterers who had run him upon such gross Mistakes he thought he did him very great service Now King Henry had taken care to breed this Gentleman to Learning and had been kind to him in many respects But when that alteration which I mention'd happen'd in England and was disapprov'd by Pool Paul the Third by the advice and recommendation of Contareni makes him a Cardinal and invited him to Rome Those who were intimately acquainted with him say That he understood the reformed Religion very well and imagine that the reason of his writing against King Henry was to avoid the suspicion of Lutheranism They say he printed his Book at Rome at his own Charge and ordering all the Copies to be brought to him gave them out only to the Pope and Cardinals and to his special Friends for he was willing to stand fair in their Opinion and was likewise afraid it 's probable of falling under the Censure of those who had several times heard him discourse very differently upon that Subject THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XI The CONTENTS The Protestants send their Embassadors to the Emperor with whom they were principally to insist upon three things Eldo the Emperor's Embassador gives them a large Answer at Smalcalde To which all the Confederates reply and particularly they reflect smartly upon the Council they were invited to Eldo rejoyns upon them ex tempore In the mean time the Pope dispatcheth away the Bishop of Aix into Germany The Prosestants give their Reasons why they refuse the Council and write to the French King about it The Queen of Scotland dies The King of England and his Nobility publish a Manifesto against the Council which the Pope had call'd The Town and Castle of St. Paul in Artois is taken Terouenna is besisg'd by the Imperialists but without Success IN the Ninth Book I had occasion to mention the Ausburghers Now when these Men had made an Alteration in Religion and the Ecclesiasticks most of which were descended of good Families leaving the Town in a disgust upon this account The Senate address'd themselves to the Emperor to King Ferdinand and to all the States of the Empire and acquaint them with the Reasons of their proceedings in writing in which they let them understand how kindly they had us'd these Gentlemen how many things they had born from them and on the contrary how provokingly they had behav'd themselves attempting several times to raise an Insurrection in the Town Not long after Christopher their Bishop publisheth an Answer to this Book in the name of himself and his Party and after a great many Complaints he desires the Emperor and the Princes in regard the danger toucheth them no less than himself to make some Provision for the common Safety In the last Book I mention'd the Protestants Embassy to the Emperor in Italy The Persons sent were Joachim Papenheim Lewis Bambach and Claudius Peutinger a Lawyer They had three things in their Commission in which they were more especially to concern themselves To confute the Report which was spread as if they were entring into an Alliance with the Kings of England and France That the Emperor would Check the Proceedings of the Chamber of Spire And that those who were admitted into the League after the Pacification at Nuremburgh might enjoy the benefit of that Treaty The Emperor admitted them to Audience but being busied in Military affairs he told them he would send an Embassador into Germany with his Answer Therefore when he was about to return into Spain by the way of Genoa he sent Mathias Eldo his Vice-Chancellor into Germany When the Protestants understood this by their Embassadors at their return they appoint the Seventh of February
of England publish'd a Manifesto in the name of himself and his Nobility to this effect That the Pope had call'd a Council without any Authority to do it That it was conven'd at an improper time when the Emperor and French King were deeply engag'd in War against each other That Mantua was an exceptionable place as being neither commodious nor safe for all Persons For his part he heartily desired a Christian Council but he would neither come nor send his Embassadors to this of the Pope's packing For it hath been their way in these Synods to betray Christ and the Truth for their own advantage He had nothing to say to the Bishop of Rome and was no more concern'd in his Bulls than in the Orders of any other Bishop Councils he said us'd to be call'd by the Emperor and other Princes which Custom ought to be retrieved especially at this time when there are such severe Complaints to be made against the Pope and yet no Man without danger of his life could publickly accuse and reprove him unless the Council was rightly constituted Besides neither himself nor any of his Subjects had a safe Conduct granted them and though they had yet there would remain dangers apparent enough to make him decline coming For it 's no new thing with the Popes to break their Promises and imbrue themselves in the blood of the Innocent And granting it might be safe for other Persons to come thither yet there were very good reasons why it could not be so for him when the Pope endeavours to draw him into an Ambuscado hates him mortally and does his utmost to make him as odious to other Princes as is possible and all for no other reason but because he took the liberty to free his own Dominions from his Holiness's Tyranny and stopped the return of his Peter-pence and some other pretended Revenues This thing he is sensible the Pope takes extreamly ill at his hands and so much the more because he is afraid other Princes may follow his example And now the Council forsooth is deferr'd till the first of November yet we are not told where it will be held at last and the blame of this disappointment is laid upon the Duke of Mantua now what is all this but abusing the World The Duke of Mantua was certainly in the right in refusing to admit such a body of Men into his Town without a Garrison and therefore all the fault must lie at his door who never acts with any sincerity but hath always something of circumvention and design at the bottom and if he happens to change the Seat of the Council we must expect the Town he pitches upon will either belong to some Prince he holdeth as it were under Vassalage or else it must be in his own Jurisdiction The truth is he hath a very large Dominion and fine Towns in it which his Predecessors made themselves Masters of by violence and fraud neither hath he much mended his Title to them since And in regard most Men of sense despair of an honest Council the best way in his judgment is for all Magistrates to reform Religion themselves in their respective Territories Now if the Pope pretends Custom to the contrary his Argument will not hold for St. Cyprian will vouch for us in the case that Custom when it 's not founded upon Truth is no more than ancient Error This expedient therefore which he hath mention'd already is in his opinion the most proper but if any person can propose a better he is ready to comply with it The Emperor spent all this year in Spain but in June his Army in Flanders under Florus Count of Bures took the Town and Castle of St. Paul in Artois by Storm and put all the Garrison to the Sword from thence he marched to Therouenne and set down before it but without success At last they came to a Truce there for ten months which was to take place only in that Country For in Peidmont the War went on as vigorously as before where the Imperialists recover'd the Town of Quiers by Assault and made a great slaughter among the besieged both Soldiers and Townsmen And afterwards when the Garrison of Turin was straitned for want of Provisions and all the Passes and Avenues possess'd by the Enemy The French King levied an Army in Autumn and marched it thither under the Command of the Dolphin and Anne Momorency who cut through the Blockade with their Swords and victualled the Town In October King Ferdinand his Army consisting of Saxon Horse Meisseners Francovians Austrians Carinthians Bohemians and those Hungarians which the Germans call Hussars besieged Exechium or Essek situate upon the Drave which the Turks had put a strong Garrison into Now when they had thrown away a great deal of time upon this Place and were forc'd to draw off at last for want of Provisions they were inclosed by the Enemy in their retreat who had posted themselves in all the Woods and Passes they were to retire though when they were reduc ' to these straits first some few Captains and other Officers and the Body of the Hungarians ran away and it was not long before Cazzianer the General followed them But the rest especially the German Horse who scorn'd such a dishonourable Flight encourag'd one another to Resolution and stood the Charge of the Enemy but being over-power'd with numbers they were most of them cut off and many of the Officers were taken Prisoners and carried to Constantinople where they were forc'd to submit to a miserable Slavery October the 12th the King of England had a Son born named Edward by Jane Seimour whom he married after the death of Anne of Bolein In the mean time the Pope understanding there was a Truce in Flanders made it his business to procure a Cessation in Italy and in other places that he might have the better opportunity to finish the grand Affair First therefore the Truce was agreed upon for a certain Term when that was expir'd it was continued for another till at last a Peace was made as I shall shew afterwards Now the Popes design in reconciling these Princes was to perswade them to joyn their Forces against his mortal Enemy the King of England and against the Lutherans About this time Christiana of Denmark the Emperor's Neice by his Sister and Dowager of Millain left Italy and returned into Flanders through Germany there was a Match treated of between this Lady and the Duke of Cleve but it came to nothing Now also the People of Gelderland began to rebel against their Prince Charles Count Egmond who was all along of the French-Faction having a violent aversion to the Burgundians And it was thought he was then attempting to bring his Province under the Jurisdiction of the French but his Subjects making a general Insurrection against him he was outed of almost all so that he had not above
one or two Towns left him to retreat to He was always a zealous Roman Catholick and punished those who professed the Reformed Religion Paul the Third in the beginning of his Popedom made two of his Grandchildren Cardinals and being sensible that he had lost some Reputation upon this account he promoted several others who were eminent for their Quality and Learning to this Honour partly that he might make the promotion of his young Relations less invidious and disobliging partly that he might be furnished with Friends able to defend his Cause with their Rhetorick and Writings Those who were created were Gasper Contareno Reginald Poole John Bellay Frederick Fregosi to which were afterwards added Sadolet Alexander Bembo Besides Erasmus was also thought on as he himself relates in a Letter of his to a Friend There are extant likewise several Letters of Sadolets to Erasmus in which he tells him in a great many words what a singular esteem the Pope had for him and that he intended to raise him very shortly to the highest Dignity Contareno was of a noble Family and a Senator of Venice a Man of great Reputation for his Learning and was said to be preferr'd to this eminent Station altogether beyond his expectation and when he made no manner of Interest for it THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XII The CONTENTS Pope Paul strictly charges his Commissioners for the Reformation diligently to enquire into the numerous Corruptions of the Church and provide â—ffectual Remedies Erasmus his Colloquies are prohibited The Protestants meet at Brunswick and receive the King of Denmark into their League The Persecution of Lutheranism revived in France The Pope goes on Progress to Nice de Provence Whither the Emperor and the French King also come The French King and several of his Nobility kiss the Pope's Right-foot The French of the Reformed Religion have a Church assigned them at Strasburg The King of England burns Thomas of Canterbury's Bones The Elector of Brandenburg gives the Elector of Saxony notice of the Preparation which the Turks made for a War. The Rise of the Antinomians Eldo's and the Duke of Brunswick's Designs discovered by the Lantgrave's intercepting the Duke's Letters A Convention is held at Frankfort where at last a Conference is decreed in order to an Accommodation which Henry Duke of Brunswick endeavours to prevent and raiseth Forces for hat Purpose George Duke of Saxony a most violent Enemy to the Reformation dies and Henry his Brother succeeds him The King of England publisheth another Paper against the Council appointed at Vicenza and makes several Laws touching Religion An Insurrection at Ghent to suppress which the Emperor takes a Journey thâ—â—her through France The Venetians make a Peace with the Turk who had secret Intelligence what their Senate had decreed touching this Matter I Have already mentioned the Prorogueing of the Council till November which was still delay'd after that Term was expired However that the Pope might keep up the Expectation of the World and seem to do something he had some time since pitched upon a select Number out of the whole Body of his Clergy whom he strictly charged to make a diligent Enquiry into the Abuses of the Church and lay them before him impartially without any manner of Flattery He likewise discharged them from their Oath that they might speak their Minds freely and ordered them to manage the Affair with great Secrecy The Delegates were Jaspar Contarino Peter Theatino James Sadolet Reginald Poole Cardinals Frederick Archbishop of Salerno Hierome Alâ—ander Archbishop of Brindisi John Matthew Bishop of Verona George Vener Abbot and Thomas Master of the Holy Palace These Persons after they had debated the Point among themselves set down their Reformation in Writing and addressing themselves to the Pope they begin with a high Commendation of his Zeal for the promoting of Truth which was not prevalent enough to gain the Ears of several of his Predecessors indeed the Fault was chiefly in their Flatterers who stretched their Prerogative too far and told their Holinesses That they were absolute Lords of all things and might do whatever they pleased From this Fountain it was that so many Disorders flowed in upon the Church which had brought her into that very ill Condition she was in at present Therefore his beginning his Cure in the first Principles and Original of the Distemper was an Argument of great Prudence and Vertue in his Holiness who according to St. Paul's Doctrine Chose rather to be a Minister and Steward than a Lord. And since he was pleased to lay this Task upon them they in obedience to his Commands had according to the best of their Understandings digested the Matter into several distinct Heads relating to himself the Bishops and the Church Now because he bore a double Character being not only Bishop of the Universal Church but a Monarch of divers Towns and Countries they would only consider the Ecclesiastical part of his Jurisdiction for the State was well already and governed very prudently and unexceptionably by him And first May it please your Holiness say they We are of Aristotle's Opinion That the Laws of a Country ought not to be changed upon a slight Occasion and apply his Maxim to the Canons of the Church which ought to be strictly kept up and not dispensed with but when the Case is very weighty and important For there can no greater Mischief happen to the Commonwealth than the weakening the Force and Authority of the Laws which were esteemed Sacred and almost Divine by our Forefathers The next Expedient is That the Pope of Rome who is the Vicar of Christ should refuse to receive Money for the granting any spiritual Privilege by virtue of the Power derived to him from Christ For since all these Advantages were freely bestowed upon him our Saviour expects he should communicate them in the same manner This Foundation of Regularity being once laid there must be a Provision made that your Holiness may be always furnished with a considerable Number of Clergy-men well qualified to take care of the Church Among these the Bishops are the chief But there is a great Miscarriage in this Point for all Persons are admitted into this Order without any Distinction or Difficulty when they have neither Learning nor Probity to recommend them and oftentimes when they are Boys Hence it is that so much Scandal ariseth that such Disrespect and Contempt is shown to Religion We therefore believe it most advisable for your Holiness to appoint in the first place some Persons at Rome to examine those who offer themselves to Holy Orders and then enjoin the Bishops the same Diligence in their respective Diocesses And that you would take care that none should be received without the Approbation of his Triers or Bishop and let those young People who are designed for Church-men have a Master set over them by particular Order that so their Learning and Morals may be fit
imaginable and conduct him to their Palaceâ— When it was Evening the Emperor sent word to Andrew Doria who stay'd on Board That the King and Queen his Sister had prevailed with him to lodge in Town that Night and that he would return to his Galley the next Day after Dinner Which Notice he gave him that he might not suspect any foul Play And accordingly the next Day the Emperor put to Sea again being accompanied thither by the King and the whole Court And after they had drank together for some time in the Galley they took their Leaves with all possible Demonstrations of Friendship When this Entertainment was known in Paris and in other places of France they went in Procession to the Churches of the Saints according to the usual Custom and made publick Bonefires The Pope had endeavoured to perswade them at Nice de Provence That now since a Truce was concluded they would go in Person to the Council at Vicenza and send those Prelates they had in their Train thither and summon in those who were absent But when they excused themselves and told him they could do neither and his Cardinal Legates whom he had sent to Vicenza had acquainted him that there was no Company come thither he prorogueth the Council again till Easter following and gives publick Notice of it by his Bulls upon the Nineteenth of June when he was at Genua in order to his Return to Rome At their first Meeting the French King kissed the Pope's right Foot as he sate in his Chair Which Respect was likewise paid by most of the rest of his Nobles yet there were some in the King's Train who refused to submit to this Ceremony though the Constable put them in mind of it These Refusers were Christopher Duke of Wirtenberg William Count Furstenburg Germans Marshall la Marche a French Man and George Gluck Ambassador of the King of Denmark Just about this time Charles Count Egmond Duke of Guelderland died How he was outed of almost all his Dominions I gave an Account in the last Book And being reduced to this Extremity when he fell sick he treated with the Duke of Cleves his near Relation and with the consent of his Nobility and People bequeathed the Dutchy of Guelderland to him with the Acceptance of which the Emperor was very much offended as shall be shewn in its proper place A little before this time Erard Count Mark Cardinal and Bishop of Leige departed this Life than whom none was more severe against the Reformers He ordered a very rich Tomb to be made for him a great many years before in the Cathedral at Leige and had those funeral Dirges and Ceremonies which the Papists use for the Dead performed anniversarily for him imagining that those Services of the Priests which they account Meritorious and believe Eternal Life is due to them would do him most Good when he was alive But those who pretended to know the Man more intimately said he did all this out of a Spirit of Vanity because his ambitious Humour was pleased with the Solemnity of the Office. About this time there was an English Bible printed at Paris which the King had ordered to be sent to all the Churches in England But when it was known it was prohibited and the Printer was in some Danger about it In France the Holy Scriptures are not commonly to be met with in the Language of the Country It 's enough there to make a man suspected if he happens to read the New Testament or any thing of that Nature in French For none but Divines and such sort of People are allowed so much as to meddle with or enquire into the Scriptures As for the generality of the Laity they are altogether Ignorant The Citizens Wives when they go to Mass carry Latin Prayers to Church with them and patter them over at their rate but understand nothing of the matter being verily perswaded that this Way is much more acceptable to God than if they should pray in French. This Notion those Priests have insinuated into them who make their Advantage of the Ignorance of the People In the beginning of August the Pope returned to Rome where the Citizens received him in the most triumphant and respectful Manner imaginable for their Streets were hung and made sine every where and there was plenty of panegyrical Papers and Inscriptions to be seen in which they magnified him at a very extraordinary rate for setling Peace in the World again and reconciling the Two great Monarchs This Year there was a College or School for young People opened at Strasburg James Sturmius a Senator of considerable Note being the principal Contriver and Promoter of this Design which by the Care of those who were appointed to govern and teach gained such a Reputation in a short time that not only the most remote Germans but Foreigners also came thither in great Numbers But the Management of the Students the throwing them as it were into distinct Classes and the whole Method of Teaching was first reported to the Senate by John Sturmius and afterwards published more at large by him in Print And when a great many People were forced to leave France and the Netherlands upon the account of Religion the Senate of Strasburg assigned a Church to those who came thither and gave them Leave to incorporate themselves in a distinct Body John Calvin of Noyon was Pastor of this Church for some Years and was succeeded by Peter Brulius of whose Death I shall speak afterwards Now to go for England a little while Thomas of Canterbury had a mighty Veneration paid him by that Nation which had continued for some Ages His Body was laid in a magnificent Tomb inestimably enriched with Gold and Jewels but King Henry fetched him out this Year and burned his Bones This Thomas Sirnamed Beckett was formerly Archbishop of Canterbury who when by defending the Privileges of the Clergy with too much vehemence had very much displesed King Henry II. and was commanded to depart the Kingdom he addressed himself to Pope Alexander III. who was then in France upon the account of the Difference there was between him and Frederick Barbarossa the Emperor At last by the Intercession of this Pope and the French King Lewis VII the King of England was reconciled to him and permitted him to return home after he had been banished Seven Years But upon his growing troublesom to some of the Bishops and interdicting them for being of the King's Side in the Dispute the King was provoked again and said with some Passion That he looked upon himself as a miserable Person otherwise it would not have been in the Power of one single Priest to give him such perpetual Disturbance and seemed to bewail the Unfortunateness of his Condition that he had never a Subject that would rid him of this Plague These Words made a singular Impression upon some of his Courtiers who imagining it would not be
unacceptable to the King set forward to Canterbury where they murthered Thomas and plundered his Houses But the King when he heard of it pretended to be extraordinary sorry and dispatched away Embassadors to Rome to purge himself who at last prevailed with the Pope to send some Persons over into England to enquire into the Murther And when the Pope had sent over Two Cardinals with Authority to act in this Affair and no Person upon Examination could be proved Guilty the King clears himself by Oath but because of his former Displeasure against the Archbishop and some extraordinary Expressions let fall by him it was thought he was to be a little suspected and blamed therefore his Peace was at last made upon these Terms viz. That he should show the Clergy all manner of Favour for the future that within Three Years he should go in Person against the Saracens and march his Army into Syria This Murther was committed in the Year 1171. Not long after Thomas as they say begun to work Miracles and grew famous upon it which when the Pope understood by his Legates he had him Canonized At the time of the Interview at Nice de Provence Joachim Elector of Brandenburg and Son of Joachim sends Eustachius Sclebius his Ambassador to the Elector of Saxony in the beginning of June with these Instructions That Sigismund King of Poland and John Vaivod King of Hungary had acquainted him that the Turk was making very formidable Preparations to take in Buda and fortify it that he may make another Descent upon Germany with the better Advantage That the Sultan had signified thus much to the Vaivod Now in regard his Father was enjoined in the Diet of the Empire to acquaint the rest of the States with whatever he could learn concerning the Motions of the Turks therefore he thought himself obliged in Duty to the Commonwealth to give this Notice and was very much troubled at the News because he was afraid it would prove a general Calamity to Germany For this and other Reasons he lately took a Journy into Lusace to King Ferdinand whom he found preacquainted with this Invasion and while he was there his Majesty received fresh Accounts of it both by Letters and Expresses Therefore if these Encroachments were not checked they might be assured That they who were in the Neighbourhood of the War should shortly see the barbarous Enemy in their own Country For all the way from Buda to his Electoral Highness his Territories and his own there was neither Castle nor fortified Town which was able to hold out against so great an Army no River no mountainous Marches no Defiles or straight Passages to stop his Progress excepting Breslaw and Lignite And what an open and fruitful Country Moravia and Silesia is his Highness knows too well to need any Information concerning the Quality and Situation of them And notwithstanding the Prospect of the common Danger had made him promise his Assistance to King Ferdinand upon his Request yet it was plain such a Supply as that would signify nothing For the Opposition and Consequences they have reason to expect are so considerable that they require no less than the united Forces and Contributions of the whole Empire Now because this cannot be had but in a publick Diet and by bringing all the Germans to a good Understanding between themselves and the Danger is so far advanced upon us that it will not bear any long Delay to Debate its Prevention therefore he had importuned the King in his last Conference with him that he would use his utmost Endeavours that the Peace of the Empire might be established within it self upon a firm and legal Foundation To this Request King Ferdinand who tenders the Good of the Commonwealth and has an Esteem for his Electoral Highness gave an obliging Answer and promised him his Interest and that he would recommend the Proposal to the Emperor as soon as he understood what his Highness and the rest of the Confederates desired And since the Case stands thus he entreats him to consider it and to acquaint him freely with those Terms which he thinks it proper to insist upon in the Treaty of Peace And then he will undertake that Ferdinand shall intercede with the Emperor in his own Name and does not question but that those Proceedings will be of great Advantage to the Commonwealth Moreover at this time it was much easier to repel the Turkish Invasion than formerly because the Difference between the Vaivod and Ferdinand was adjusted this the King had acquainted him with as a Secret not being willing such a Report should be made publick least the Sultan should know it Hitherto a great part of Hungary hath been embroiled by the Christians engaging in a civil War with each other but now seeing they stand upon good Terms and all Discontents are removed a very fair Opportunity for Action presents it self which makes him the more importunate in his Entreaties with his Highness whom he once again desireth that he would join in the common Cause of the Empire This Joachim was married to Sigismund the King of Poland his Daughter who was John Vaivod his Niece by his Sister This Alliance was the occasion of that intimate Friendship and Familiarity between them The Elector also was of the Lutheran Religion and published a Book concerning it but he refused to come into the League and was in other Respects entirely devoted to the Emperor and Ferdinand In his Reformation he retained some thing more than ordinary of the Ceremonies and was of a reconciling Temper The Elector of Saxony immediately gives the Lantgrave an account of this whole Matter in a Letter and afterwards upon the Twelfth of June they both of them write an Answer to the Brandenburger to this effect Although the present Affair is of such importance that it ought to be communicated to their Confederates yet they are very sensible of the Inconvenience of Delays especially seeing the Turk is as Enterprizing as ever and that they have spent too much time already in debating the Measures for the Settlement of Germany and opposing the Infidels with the whole strength of the Empire For as to their preparation for a Defence against so Savage an Enemy which his Electoral Highness pressed by his Ambassador he was certainly in the right the Interest of the State requiring no less But their Circumstances were such that a Peace among themselves was absolutely necessary for them a Peace that was fair and honourable likely to hold and not drawn up in ambiguous Terms For His Highness could not but see how unsafe and imprudent it must be for them to exhaust themselves upon the Turkish War when their Neighbours had not laid down their Quarrels and Animosities against them As for them they were very desirous of Peace but if they could not obtain it and therefore did not detach any of their Forces for Foreign Service while things looked so suspiciously at
the Emperor and King Ferdinand with whom he had concluded an Agreement some few Years since would be disobliged which would make him run a great Hazard in his whole Fortune Duke Vlrich gave his Majesty Thanks for his Caution and told him That he was wronged in this Relation and believed the Dukes of Bavaria were the Authors of this Calumny who had falsly spread such a Report as this of him in Germany therefore he desires his Majesty that he would not give any Credit to it for neither himself nor any of his Allies intended to raise any Disturbance or do any Act of Hostility unless they were forced to it in their own Defence and he did not question but that they when they heard of it would purge themselves As soon therefore as the Protestants at Francfort had received an Account of this Complaint from the Duke the Elector of Saxony and the Lantgrave wrote an Answer to the French King in the Name of all the Confederates dated April the Nineteenth in which they acquaint him That they understood by the Duke of Wirtemberg what Reports had been made to his Majesty concerning them but all these Accusations were nothing but Calumnies raised by Enmity and Ill-Will for they were not about making any Preparations for War but were very desirous of Peace as the Princes of the Mediation could testify For though they had received several Provocations though a confederate Town of theirs had been proscribed and a League claped up by some of the other Party to back their unjust Decrees notwithstanding their Adversaries had raised Forces and given them extraordinary Pay who were now making hostile Depredations in the Territories of their Allies yet they were contented to sit still all this while without the least Motion towards an Opposition for the Love they had for their Country made them willing to forgive all manner of Injuries for the Sake of the Commonwealth But their Adversaries were of a violent and implacable Temper and would not harken to any moderate Proposals nor submit the Differences between them to a legal Determination but were wholly bent to fill the Empire with the Blood and Slaughter of its own Subjects And seeing the Case stands thus they entreat his Majesty not to believe any false Suggestions but endeavour to promote the Interest of the Church by Religious and defensible Methods for the Protection of Truth and Innocence is a Duty peculiarly incumbent upon Kings As for their standing up in the Defense of Religion it was only to discharge their Conscience and not out of any sinister and secular Design neither did they question but that their Doctrine was agreeable to the Word of God which they had not the Liberty to depart from upon any Consideration whatever Upon the Twenty Fourth of April at the breaking up of the Diet George Duke of Saxony departed this Life leaving no Issue behind him for his Two Sons were already deceased without Children one of which was married to Elizabeth the Lantgrave's Sister and the other to a Daughter of the House of Mansfield George therefore made his Brother Henry and his Sons Morice and Augustus his Heirs by Will upon Condition That they should not make any Alteration in the State of Religion If this Condition was Unperformed then he bequeaths all his Dominions to the Emperor and King Ferdinand till his Brother or his Nephews or the next of the male Line of the Blood should fulfil what was enjoined Now after he was grown old and had but an ill Health he acquainted the Nobilility and Commonalty with his Will and desired them That they would ratify it and swear to stand by the Contents But they being affraid that this would occasion a War in the Family prayed him to send to his Brother Henry and treat with him about it for they did not question but that he would agree that no Change should be made in Religion Upon this Ambassadors are sent who besides several other Arguments to perswade him insisted principally That there was a great deal of Money in the Exchequer abundance of rich Furniture and Plate all which would be his own provided he complied with his Brother To which he made this remarkable Answer immediately Truly says he your Ambassy puts me in mind of that Passage in the new Testament where the Devil promised our Saviour all the Kingdoms of the World upon Condition he would fall down and worship him Do you think that any Temptation of Riches has such an ascendant over me as to make me forsake a Religion which I know to be pure and Orthodox I assure you you are much mistaken in your Expectations Now having received this Answer and had their Audience of Leave without effecting any part of their Negotiation It so happen'd That George their Master was dead before they returned Home which when his Brother Henry understood he immediately went to Dresâ—en and to the other great Towns and made the People swear Allegiance to him which they were the more inclinable to do because he was supported with the Interest of the League at Smalcald The Elector of Saxony also who knew how George's Will stood and what his designs were as soon as he heard of his Death made haste Home that he might be ready to assist Henry if need were This was a very considerable Addition to the Protestant Interest and a great and unexpected disappointment of the Roman Catholick Princes who were extreamly troubled at it especially the Elector of Mentz and Henry Duke of Brunswick as I shall have occasion to mention afterwards Thus George had an Heir and Successor quite contrary to his Inclinations and Luther whom he hated above all Men living was invited to Leipsick by the New Prince where he preached several Sermons and began to enter upon a Reformation This Year in May a Comet was seen and just about the same time Isabella the Emperor Charles's Wife died the French King as soon as he heard of it solemnized her Funeral at Paris according to the usual Ceremony among Princes I have already mentioned the Council of Vicenza which the Pope had Prorogued till Easter this Year but the Company not appearing at the time upon the Tenth of June he published another Bull in which he did not Prorogue it to a certain day but suspended it during the pleasure of the Conclave and himself Some few Months since the King of England published another Paper concerning the Council of Vicenza shewing how the Pope abus'd the World for his laying the Fault upon the Duke of Mantua is a ridiculous Excuse For if he hath so great a Power as he pretends why does he not force him to his Pleasure If he cannot do this why does he summon people upon uncertainties to a place which he hath not the command of And now though he hath pitched upon Vicenza for the same purpose yet there is no question but so wise a State as that of
Protestants because of their Religion The End of the Twelfth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIII The CONTENTS The Protestants make Answer to the Emperor's Demands and by many Arguments prove that they aim more at Piety and Religion in their Actions than at appropriating to themselves Church-lands and Possessions They also refute the Arguments of the King of England The Emperor having punished the City of Ghent orders a Meeting of the Protestants who answer his Letters The Pope sends his Legate Farnese the same who went with the Emperor from Paris to the Netherlands He makes a long invective Speech against the Protestants In the mean time the French King makes a League with the Duke of Cleve to whom he gives his Sisters Daughter in Marriage At this time the Pope was making War against the People of Perusia The King of England turns away Ann the Sister of the Duke of Cleve Some Points of Religion are accommodated in the Assembly of Haguenaw The rest are repriev'd to the Convention at Wormes appointed by King Ferdinand whither Granvell came and made a Speech Campeggio the Pope Legate came after who also makes a Speech The Conference is broken off and all the Negotiation put off till the Diet of Ratisbone Luther makes a smart Answer to the Book of Henry Duke of Brunswick wherein Mention is made of the dear Pall which the Pope of Rome sells The Treaty commences at Ratisbone The Emperor passes over into Barbary Granvell presents the Book called the Interim to the Conferrers The Duke of Cleve marries the King of Navarr's Daughter TO these things the Protestants April the Eleventh make Answer and in the first place say they we return our hearty Thanks to the Heer Granvell who hath always advised the Emperor to Moderation in this Affair a Virtue which deserves the highest Commendation And we pray God to confirm him in this so laudable a Resolution for what can be more glorious than to allay publick Grievances by prudent and moderate Counsels without Slaughter and Bloodshed Now we pray all Men in general not to think that we delight in the Clashings and Dissensions of Churches that we propose to our selves any private Advantage or that it is out of Frowardness that we have separated from other Nations contrary to the inveterate Custom of many Ages It was not out of Wantonness Rashness or Unadvisedness that we have exposed our selves to the implacable Hatred of our Adversaries that we have undergone so much Trouble and Toil so great Charges and Losses and the continual Dangers of so many Years No but when Division in Doctrine broke out in the Church which hath happened oftner than once of old we could not in Conscience resist the Truth for the Favour of Men and far less approve the Actions of those who with great Cruelty persecute the Innocent Nay on the contrary for so many weighty Reasons for such true and holy Causes we are constrained to oppose them and separate from them For it is manifestly known that they defend gross and intolerable Errors not only in Word but by Violence and Force of Arms Now it is the Duty of the Magistrate to protect his Subjects from unjust Force And because we hear that we lie under Suspicion as if we only minded our own Profit and Advantage and not the Glory of God nor Reformation of the Church we beseech the Heer Granvell that he would justify us in that Matter to the Emperor We are sensible enough of the Calumnies of that Nature which are dispersed far and near by our Adversaries with intent to bring our Persons and the true Religion we profess into contempt and hatred But in the Emperors honourable Council whom God hath placed in so eminent a Sphere Truth only should be enquired into and regarded and all false Informations discountenanced For the Reason why they hunt about for Pretexts to load us with that Aspersion and publickly traduce us is because they maintain a weak and unjust Cause because they see their own Errors blamed and condemned by all Men and cannot withstand the pure Light of the Gospel But it suits ill with the Character and Duty of Bishops so to urge and importune the Emperor about Lands and Revenues as if the Christian Religion stood or fell with them when in the mean time they take not the least Notice of those many and enormous Errors and Vices which they themselves cannot dissemble It ought indeed to be their first care to see Religion and the purer Doctrine preserved in their Churches But now their Thoughts are wholly taken up how they may defend their Wealth and Power their Luxury and Splendor They know well enough that the Contest is not about Church-lands and Possessions they themselves know that these are not the things we aim at but they use that as a Cloak and Veil to cover their own wicked Counsels in resisting the Truth that they may inflame the Minds of Kings and Princes to the Destruction of this Religion For no Man of our Profession hath invaded any part of Church Possessions within the Territories and Dominion of another nor deprived any Bishop of ought that was his but the Bishops themselves have slighted their Jurisdiction when the Profits thereof began to fall and indeed they know not how to administer the same Again The Colleges of the Canons Regular still enjoy all they had but they on the other hand have appropriated to themselves the Revenues of many of our Churches and discharge their People from paying us any yearly Rent And whereas they were wont formerly to allow somewhat of their yearly Revenues to the Ministers of the Church and Schoolmasters they are now so far from contributing anything that way that the Cities are necessitated to be at all the Charges And it is not like that these Cities which both lie under heavy Burthens and are exposed to great Dangers do espouse and maintain this Cause meerly for Covetousness sake But our Enemies especially such of them as hunt after Church Preferments maliciously accuse us so to the Emperor We could heartily wish that the Emperor were rightly informed of the present State of Monasteries why monastick Institutions have been change and how these Goods are employed partly for maintaining the Ministers of the Church and Teachers of the People and partly for other pious Uses We would the Emperor also understood how our Adversaries hook in to themselves all Profits and rob and spoil not only Monasteries but other Churches also so that within their Precincts many Churches are wholly slighted and the People degenerate into Paganism But before we speak any more of that Matter we beseech Granvell that in his own excellent Judgment he would weigh these things with himself For grant we might from hence reap some Advantage yet it may easily be imagined that the Controversie proceeds not from this but from a far different and more considerable Cause and that for
they shall be answered And if perhaps there be any thing in our Apology too briefly or not plainly enough expressed we will explain it Again if it be convenient to alter any thing that hath been Printed and Published we will not be Obstinate when once the Fault is detected We know also that the weak and unlearned are offended that the same Laws are not every where observed in all our Churches And though there is no necessity of retaining the same Form every where provided the Doctrine be the same yet we do not refuse but that may also be handled in some Assembly Since therefore we have laid open our Thoughts and Intentions we beseech the Heer Granvell that he would advise and perswade the Emperor to reform and settle Peace in the Church For though manifest Vices and Errors may be defended by Power and Force yet God will always stir up those that shall confute and reprove them How unjust and contrary to the Law of Nature it is also to attempt by Force and Arms the Suppression of the true Religion is obvious enough to be understood The Emperor Constantine gave the Donatists twice a publick Hearing though they taught Doctrines manifestly false and he himself was present at a Third Hearing they had that nothing might be Decreed against them till he had been exactly informed of the whole matter a most excellent Example which ought to admonish us of Meekness and Moderation And since at this time also there are many most weighty Matters under debate we hope the Emperor will attempt nothing by Arms before a fair Hearing and Trial and therefore we humbly Petition his Imperial Majesty that he would appoint a Conference which by his Deputy he promised us at Francfort For it properly belongs to his Charge to consult the Salvation of Men especially when Popes are inflamed with most bitter hatred and have no other aim than to incease Kings and Princes against Innocent People that they may be dragg'd away to the Slaughter The Emperor also deserves high Applause and Commendation which will be celebrated by Posterity that hitherto he hath not given way to those sanguinary Councils And indeed it is the Will and Command of God That all Good-will and Protection should be shown to the Ministers of his Church Now the Report that is spread Abroad as if we enclined to the Emperor's Enemies is a Calumny of the same nature as the former For it can be made out that in time of the War we supplied the Emperor's Generals both with Work-men and Powder and that we enjoined our People to gratifie them in every thing they could Conditions it 's true were at that time offerred unto us and those neither inconsiderable nor inconvenient but we rejected them all upon no other consideration than that we might demonstrate our Loyalty and Affection towards the Emperor And if any one should be informed against as to that particular and the thing done openly we are of Opinion that the Emperor would be satisfied with his Justification Now it is our desire that Granvell would weigh all these things with himself and also represent them to the Emperor recommending to his Majesty at the same time our Duty and Services with a publick Reconciliation For unless a stop be put to that Persecution of Holy Men and such extraordinary Cruelty a horrid Desolation in all Churches will certainly ensue since the Popes and Bishops had rather have no Religion at all than admit of a Reformation We also desire that he would present to the Emperor our Grievance concerning the Imperial Chamber for many of our Associates are most unjustly oppressed by them contrary to Law and the Emperor's Edicts and for the smallest matters most grievous Suits are commenced against them as is notoriously manifest in the Case of Minden The Action was only for Threescore Florins which the Senate applied to the use of a Parish to which they really belonged and had of ancient time been applied but our Adversaries had rather that thet small Revenue should be filthily spent by useless and idle Drones And though the Clergy of that City wallow in Riches yet by no means will they suffer that small Pittance of Money to be taken from them and employed as it ought to be in the Service of the Church For this so inconsiderable a Trifle the Judges of the Imperial Chamber have prosecuted the City of Minden with the utmost Rigour and outlawed them Now it is our Desire that this so great Insolence of theirs may be in general restrained and all those Suits laid aside as it was agreed upon with the Mediators at Francfort for this must of necessity be done if the Emperor would see Peace in Germany And indeed what else are these Sentences and Condemnations of theirs but Alarms to make us prepare for War Against which the very Law of Nature warrants us to defend our selves For if the Emperor repress them not and others in the mean time raise Forces what can we judge but they are designed against us Which may give occasion to a great Combustion though sore against our Wills. We therefore pray the Heer Granvell that he would supplicate the Emperor in our Names to grant us that Peace which has been so often begged and desired When they had thus answered on the Thirteenth of April they put an end to their Deliberations having enjoined their Divines to refute the Arguments of the King of England concerning the Points of Doctrine we mentioned and that the Book should be afterwards sent thither To which if the English Divines should answer and any Hope 's appeared of a future Agreement it was resolved not to refuse a Conference but that they should make a League with him upon any other account than that of Religion no Man thought it convenient A Decree was also made for making Intercession to the French King for those that suffered for Religion in France but so That first they should be informed of the State of France and of the King's Mind and whether or not their Mediation would be well taken Afterwards Decrees were made concerning Church-Lands and the several Grievances Those of Hailbrun were also advised to abolish the Popish Mass in some Churches which they had not as yet done promising them Aid if they should chance to incur any Danger thereby Lastly They enact what was to be done if the Emperor should either reject a Peace or answer ambiguously or if the Imperial Chamber should proceed in their wonted way or Forces should be secretly raised During these Transactions the Emperor punished the Men of Ghent puting the Authors of the Sedition to Death and disarming the rest But that was not all for he deprived them of their Privileges and Immunities built a Castle and put therein a Garrison to curb them It has been a common thing for that City to resist their Princes as we have observed before Thus they served Charles Duke of Burgundy the
lately sent an Ambassador to the Pope to intercede for it it would not be difficult to begin the same especially since they themselves in a League lately made had promised upon Oath to use all their Endeavours to procure the calling of a Council That now was the fit time for it when there was a treaty of Peace with France on Foot and many signs of mutual Benevolence appeared so that the Bishops of their Dominions might without danger repair to it That besides it would much conduce to the Peace of their own Minds and Consciences if they referred all things to a Council and not make Decrees in private Conventions which might offend God for that so they would have nothing to answer for That moreover it would be useful also unto them since all the Care being referred to the Council they would have time and leisure to mind other Affairs as they should think fit and to enlarge their League also which would produce this Effect that the Protestants should either submit to the Decree of the Council or be by the Catholick Confederates reduced to Duty and so much for that That now as to the Turk He did earnestly exhort and beseech as he had often done already that the Emperor would make Peace with the King of France for that such a Peace would be so Advantageous to Christendom that without it it was to be doubted whether the Turk would be resisted That he had many times before shown the Benefits of that Peace so that it was not needful now to repeat them that the other States of the Empire might in the mean time be sollicited for aid and that if after the League should be enlarged and the Council Commenced the Protestants might be perswaded upon Security given them to come to the Council it would not be difficult to obtain Assistance also from them against the Turk But that if there was no obtaining of that but upon bad Conditions pernicious to Religion it was to be considered of two Evils which was to be chosen and whether it would be better to offend God by betraying Religion or to want the Subsidies of one Province against the Turk That the Truth was it could not easily be determined which withstood Christ most the Protestants or the Turks for that these exercised their Cruelty only upon the Bodies of Men but that these drew their Souls into eternal Damnation That therefore he thought it most expedient that a Council should be speedily called to Commence this Year and that no Matters of Religion should be handled in any Diets or Assemblies of Germany but that the League should be enlarged were it only for this that thereby the Protestants might be the more invited to concord That Peace was also to be made with the French King and in the mean time Assistance procured on all Hands against the Turkish Power that next Year he might be attacked with all the Force that could be made Cardinal Farnese had joined with him Marcello Cervino Bishop of Necastro to moderate his Councils who in this same Legation was made Cardinal When some Months after this Counsel of Farnese's came abroad John Calvin cloathed it in a short Commentary least any Man should mistake it and therewith it was printed and published About this time the Duke of Cleve now in possession of Gâ—elderland came to the Emperor to make up the difference he had with him but that proved in vain wherefore returning Home he began to join Counsels with the French King who since he had left all Hopes of Recovering Milan the Emperor having offered such Conditions as he little expected he fell quite off from the Emperor's Friendship though covertly complaining that he had been abused insomuch that the Constable who had been his great Favorite before began now to fall into his Disgrace because he had advised him to let the Emperor pass through France and had thereupon filled him with great Hopes Seeing then the King was casting about underhand how he might by any means annoy the Emperor and that the Duke of Cleve was not able alone to stand it out against so powerful a Competitor they began to think of mutual Engagements of Friendship The French King had a Neece Jane the Daughter of his Sister Margaret Queen of Navarr a Young Lady of about Eleven Years of Age the richest Fortune in France and of singular Beauty both of Body and Mind the King designed her in Marriage for the Duke of Cleve and therefore sollicited her Relations and especially the Queen his Sister for their Consent which at length he obtained as shall be said in its proper place At this time the Pope made War against the Perugians who refused to pay an additional Custom imposed by him upon Salt and other Commodities and so reduced the City under his Obedience having for the like Cause driven Asconio Colonna a very powerful Man out of all his Territories Cardinal Farnese finding no likelihood of any Success in the Peace betwixt the Emperor and French King which according to his Instructions he had propos'd and that unknown to him a Day was assigned the Protestants to meet and treat at Haguenaw he departed and about the Fifteenth of May came to Paris where on Whitsunday in the Cathedral Church he invested Anthony Uncle to Madam d'Estampes the King's Darling Cardinal of Mendon by the ceremony of putting a purple Hat lately sent from Rome upon his Head and then having saluted the King in passing he made all speed back again to Rome King Ferdinand afterwards leaving Flanders set out upon his Journey to the Diet at Haguenaw for because of the Plague it could not be kept at Spire The French King also by the Emperor's Advice sent his Ambassador Lazarus Baif to that Diet for both of them disguised their Discontent and as yet gave fair words to one another The King likewise the First Day of June emitted a most severe Edict against the Broachers of the Heresies and false Doctrine of Luther and his Followers which Twelve Days after was proclaimed at Paris and Printed according to Custom Much about this time the King of England struck off the Head of Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex whom from a very low Degree he had raised to great Honour He also put away his Queen Ann of Cleve and married the Lady Catharine Howard the Duke of Norfolk's Brother 's Daugther Cromwell had advised the King to the Match of Cleve but he falling afterwards in Love with the Lady Howard was thought to have been prevailed with by her to cut off Cromwell whom she look'd upon as her Adversary Besides he was not very acceptable to the Nobility and had fallen into a suspicion of designing the Ruine of the Roman Catholicks In the mean time Henry Duke of Brunswick accused all the Protestants to the Emperor and in particular Henry Duke of Saxony in that contrary to the Will of his
they began to treat of a Marriage and though the Parents at that time were not altogether for it and that the Young Lady was more averse not so much of her own Judgment or that she slighted the Person of the Man as through the Whispers and Tattles of some who despised Germany as a wild and rude Country in respect of the Pleasantness and Deliciousness of France yet being over-ruled by the King's Authority who look'd on that affinity as very advantageous to him they yielded Wherefore on the Fifteenth of June the Marriage was solemnized the King leading the Bride his Neece to Church The Cardinal of Tournon said Mass and the King gave a most magnificent Wedding Feast whereat were present the Pope's Nuncio the Ambassadors of England Portugal Venice and Saxony for the Emperor's Ambassador had excused himself Some Days after the Duke of Cleve returned home leaving his Young Wife in France whom her Mother would have to be with her until she were grown up to maturity Before the Duke of Cleve came into France the King ordered the Admiral whom we mentioned before to be set at Liberty to go Home and then in the Month of May to come to his Majesty who most graciously received him and restored him to his former Honour and Dignity raised him as it were from Death to Life and by a new and unprecedented Example annulled the Sentence pass'd against him by the Select and Chief Judges of the Kingdom partly in spight of the Constable as it was believed and partly at the intercession of Madam d'Estampes who had contracted a new Relation by Affinity with the Admiral Wherefore the Constable Montmorency who loved not the Admiral his equal and was fallen much in the King's Favour because of the Emperor's Passage through France as hath been said being besides altogether slighted and despised at Court went Home and in an uncertain Condition led a private Life whereas before he had had the King wholly to himself The End of the Thirteenth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIV The CONTENTS In the Conference of Ratisbone they treat of reforming the Ecclesiastical State and Means are proposed for accomplishing of that Diverse Opinions and Answers are here related Eckius loathing the Book offered by the Protestants accuses his Collegues Vpon the Report of the Approach of the Turk the Emperor commands the Conference to be put off till the meeting of the Council Fregoso and Rink the Ambassadors sent from the French King to the Turk are taken and slain and therefore the Bastard Son of Maximilian is arrested at Lyons and committed to Prison The Turk makes his Entry into Buda The Emperor comes to Algiers The Plague rages in Germany Austria sorely afflicted The Peers of Austria desire Leave to profess and exercise the Protestant Religion and are eluded by King Ferdinand The Christians being worsted in Hungary the Emperor calls a Diet of the States of the Empire to meet at Spire where Oliver the French King's Ambassador made a long Speech The King of England cuts off his Queens Head and marries a Sixth Wife Morono the Pope's Legate being sent to Spire declares the calling of a Council at Trent Luther publishes a little Book a Military or Camp-Sermon wherein he compares the Papacy with the Turks War breaking out again betwixt the Emperor and French King. Longueville and Martin van Rossem invade Brabant Perpignon is besieged Edicts against the Lutherans are published at Paris Farel preacheth at Metz. Locusts overspread Germany and Italy An Imperial Diet held at Nurimberg Poiet apprehended in the Night time and committed to Prison Otho Prince Palatine embraces the Protestant Religion THE Conference commenced about the end of April as we said before But Eckius grew impatient and morose for he was sick of the Book disliked his Collegues and not long after fell into a Fever so that he could not be present However his Associates went and consulted him about all Matters Some Places of the Book indeed were by common Consent corrected in the Conference and some others they could not agree upon as about the Church and the Power thereof the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ the Confession of Sins Satisfaction the Unity and Order of the Ministers of the Church Saints the Mass the Sacrament to be received in both Kinds and the single Life of the Clergy So the Book as it was corrected was delivered to the Emperor and therewith the Sentiments of the Protestant Divines in Writing concerning the controverted Points of Doctrine now mentioned this was on the last Day of May. The Emperor commended their Zeal and took it kindly entreating them to shew the like Diligence and good Inclination if at any time after the Case did so require On the Eighth of June after he made a Report of what was done and how far they had proceeded in the Session of the Princes and States That the Conferrers had carefully handled the Matter and reconciled many weighty Points of Doctrine and that the Protestant Divines had declared their Thoughts touching the rest which were not as yet accommodated Then he shewed them both the Writings desiring they would take them speedily into Consideration give their Judgment of the same and think of a way how both Church and State might be reformed That for his part he would not omit anything that might contribute thereunto and doubted not but that the Pope's Legate inclined that way too The Senate of Princes consists for most part of Bishops and therefore they who were for rejecting the Book offered by the Emperor and all proceeding by Conference carried it by majority of Voices and gave their Resolution accordingly in Writing though in Terms somewhat too harsh But seeing the Electors and some other Princes who tendered the Wellfare of the Publick did not consent to it there was another Writing drawn up and on the Second of July presented to the Emperor whom therein they advised that as Advocate and Defender of the Church he would communicate the whole Affair to the Pope's Legate according to the Decree of Haguenaw but particularly those Heads which the Conferrers had agreed upon that they might be carefully weighed if there were any thing to be found in them in Sense or Words inconsistent either with the Doctrine of Holy Interpreters or the Custom and Practice of the Church That in the next place what was said more obscurely might be explained and that he himself would be pleased afterwards to acquaint the States with his Thoughts and Resolution as to the whole and to deal with the Protestants that they would suffer themselves to be instructed in the remaining Points in Controversie or if that could not be obtained that then a General or National Council of Germany should be called to determine all Matters in debate Among the States there were some who made it their Business to obstruct the Reformation of Religion
the Chapter chosen to succeed in his place but the Elector of Saxony pretended that the Chapter had no Right to do so without his Consent and therefore in exclusion to Pflug he substituted Nicholas Amstorff a Divine of Wittemberg of a noble Family in his place whom in the Month of January Luther installed and afterwards published a Book in the vulgar Tongue wherein he asserted That the Flock of Christ was not to be committed to Pflug as being an Enemy to the pure Doctrine of the Gospel Pflug being in this manner rejected made a publick Appeal to the States of the Empire wherein he justified his Right and complained of the Wrong that was done him The Elector on the other hand answered the Writing of Pflug and having enlarged much upon the Right of the House of Saxony which he proved by ancient Precedents amongst other Reasons why he could not admit of him as Bishop he alledged this also That he openly opposed the Augustane Confession After the Overthrow in Hungary which we mentioned before a Diet was called by King Ferdinand in the Emperor's Name to begin at Spire in the Month of January wherein the Emperor appointed his Brother King Ferdinand to preside in his Name and gave him for Assistants Hugh Count of Monfort and John Naves The Princes who appeared there were the Elector of Brandenburg Frederick Prince Palatine Albert Duke of Meckleburg Ernest Marquess of Baden the Bishops of Mentz Wormes Spire Constance and Heildesseim The rest sent Deputies thither When they came to a Session which was the Ninth Day of February King Ferdinand in the Emperor's Absence opened the Diet by a Speech as is customary telling them That it was known to all how great Diligence and Care the Emperor had used both that Religion might be setled and the Government entirely established But that when Differences would not be wholly adjusted in the former Diet his imperial Majesty for weighty Reasons went from Germany into Italy where having treated with the Pope about a Council and the Turkish War he prevailed so far at length that his Holiness had promised to send a Legate to this Diet that he went afterwards with a Fleet into Barbary that having taken Algiers which was in the Enemies Hands and which did great damage to Spain and his other Provinces he might obtain a competent aid from his Subjects against the Turk after he had removed the Danger and secured the Sea Coast but that being by a Storm prevented from effecting what he had proposed he returned to Spain that he might again prepare himself to make War against the Turk both by Sea and Land. And that because the Turk had lately made himself Master of Buda the chief City of Hungary and of the Town of Pest over against it into which he had put Garrisons he had called this Diet to advise what was fitting to be done That seeing the Turk had left in those two places all the great Guns which he had either brought with him or taken from the Christians there was no doubt but he would come back again in the Summer time that he might not only take the remaining part of Hungary but also invade all the Provinces bordering upon Germany For that since Buda was taken and all other Passes laid open there was nothing now that could stop or divert him That therefore these were weighty and necessary Matters to be now consulted about at which Consultations the Emperor would willingly have been present but that being hindred by time he had committed that care to him who though the State of his own Religion did chiefly require his Presence yet was resolved not to desert the publick at such a Pinch Having made this preamble he declared to them what the Austrians Hungarians Bohemians and the Neighbouring People nay and what the Church Men of his Dominions would contribute to this War praying and exhorting them to do the like for that the Danger stared all Men in the Face and the condition of Affairs was now such that either the Enemy was to be driven out of Hungary or all were to expect and soon after undergo the extremity of Miseries After the Diet of Ratisbone John Gropper Deputy from the Archbishop of Cologne being returned Home mightily commended Bucer saying That of all Men he was the â—ittest to be intrusted with the Reformation of Religion for that he was both very Learned a lover of Peace and of a good and upright Life Wherefore the Bishop who knew Bucer before and had thoughts of employing him sent him word that he had a desire to speak with him Bucer therefore going this Year in the Month of February to Cologne was most courteously received and particularly by Gropper who had prevailed with him to come thither from Bonn. So after some conversation with the Bishop he gave him leave to be gone upon condition that when he should be sent for at another time he would come back again as shall be said hereafter About this time also King Henry of England cut off the Head of his Queen Catharine Howard for that having Married her for a Virgin he found that she had been defloured before He that defloured her had got some place in Ireland but being recalled by her when she was Queen and taken into her Family he was also Beheaded after her as some others were partly for the same Crime and partly for concealing it When she was out of the way the King married a Sixth Wife the Lady Catharine Parr The French King sent an Ambassy to the Diet at Spire and Francis Oliver Chancellor of Alenzon was the chief person in it who in a full Assembly of all the States when they were consulting about the Turkish War February the Fourteenth spoke to this purpose That he needed not use many words to plead for a favourable hearing at their Hands since all understood how well affected the King his Master stood towards the Interests and Welfare of Germany that what he had to say also was of so great moment that he doubted not but they would willingly listen to the King's Counsel and Proposals Seeing that when the Diet of Ratisbone was busie in Accommodating the Difference of Religion News being brought That the Turk was preparing to Invade Hungary with a vast Army the King had forthwith sent Ambassadors to the Grand Seignior to avert if he could the War from Hungary for the sake of Germany which lay next to it but that his Ambassadors had been apprehended by the Emperor's Soldiers and that it was as yet uncertain whether they had been kill'd or were still alive whereby not only the Truce but the Law of Nations was also violated Now that they were sent for that Cause the King would make it out by the very Letters and Instructions which were then intercepted by the Imperialists That afterward a false Report had been spread abroad as if the King had called in
the Emperor's Subjects in the Netherlands because of King Christiern who was kept Prisoner and he desired Assistance from the Protestants but they alledged that that Cause had no Relation to the League for it was only stipulated That if any made War against him upon account of Religion that then they should join with him and assist him The Duke of Cleve having made his Peace with the Emperor sent an Ambassador to the French King to renounce the League he had with him and to demand his Wife to be sent unto him for whose Passage he had obtained a safe Conduct from the Emperor The King made Answer to the Ambassador That it was none of his Fault but that he had had both his Wife delivered and an Army sent him but that he himself was in the blame who had sent word that there was no free Passage for them through those Places nor could they be supplied with Provisions That he himself had generously performed what-ever he had promised and more too But that the Duke had not done well who forgetting his Lineage and Quality had cast himself into such Bondage That as to his Neece he might inform himself of her Parents and her self what their Resolution was for that he was no longer obliged to him in any thing The Emperor having settled of his Affairs in Guelderland came with a vast Army before Landrecy Thither also came the French King with all his Forces and there was no other likelihood but of a Battle betwixt them But the French having put Provisions into the place drew off so silently in the Night time that the Enemy perceived it not before it was Day Then at length they pursued and came up with the Rear of them of whom they slew a great many But because Winter now approached the Emperor thought it not fit to attempt any thing else only he sent some Forces to the Siege of Luxenburg and so dismissed the rest of his Army to Winter Quarters Duke Maurice served the Emperor as a Volunteer at Landrecy whereby he procured much good Will and opened himself a Way to his Friendship In the Winter time the Duke of Lorrain and some others mediated for a Peace but to no purpose The Emperor being returned home from Landrecy sent Ferrante Gonzaga Vice-Roy of Sicily to the King of England that he might edge him on more and more against the French King. We have several times spoken of Count William of Furstemberg He being now somewhat alienated from the French King made way by the means of Granvell to be received again into the Emperor's Favour and for a Proof of his Fidelity having raised some Companies of Foot in his own Territory in the middle of Winter he marched to Luxenburg and joined the Imperialists there But the French under the Command of the Duke of Longueville having put Provisions into the Place he retreated without doing any Exploit having lost many of his Men by Hunger and Cold. It was said before that the Emperor had appointed a Diet of the Empire to meet the last Day of November Therefore the Protestants assemble before at Franckfort to consult about the Affairs they were to treat of in the Diet And seeing the Meeting of it was deferred because of the French War the Elector of Saxony and Lantgrave wrote to the Emperor in November promising to come to the Diet provided he himself came and did grant them and their Confederates a safe Conduct Hereunto the Emperor wrote an Answer from Brussels dated the Tenth of December that he would come and that in the Month of January too and at the same time sent a safe Conduct Wherein nevertheless he excluded those who were engaged to his Enemies by Faith or Compact intimating thereby the secret Agents and Spies of the French King. So in the beginning of January he left the Netherlands and came to Spire On the Twenty sixth Day of this Month there happened a great Eclipse of the Sun which was beheld by all not without Admiration There were Three total Eclipses of the Moon also this Year a very prodigious thing indeed and such as Astronomers said had not happened before since the time of Charlemagne Cardinal Alexander Farnese having made his Journey through France met the Emperor on his Way to the Diet and took his Leave of him at Wormes It was believed that he was sent to mediate a Peace This Diet of Spire was exceeding great For not only was King Ferdinand present at it but all the Electors also which is a rare thing and generally all the Princes amongst whom was the Duke of Cleve too The Elector of Saxony came on the Eighteenth of February and was met upon the Rode by the Lantgrave the Archbishop of Cologne Frederick Prince Palatine and the Vice-Roy of Sicily Two Days after the Diet commnced which was opened by the Emperor's Speech to this effect That he had acquainted them by Letters from Genoa with the Causes that made him leave Spain to make another Journey into Germany and call this Diet Nor needed he now represent to them how much he had always studied the Safety and Wellfare of the Publick that all things being setled and composed at Home he might have turned his Arms against the common Enemy of Christendom and that therefore in the former Diet at Ratisbone he had earnestly proposed the raising of Forces and Supplies but that when the Year following the War undertaken against the Turk had proved unsuccessful their last Deliberations concluded in this That for the present the frontier Places should only be well fortified and garrisoned That now though it had been his earnest Desire then to have been personally present in the War according to the Duty of his Charge yet it was publickly known by whom and upon what Occasion he was and is still hindered and retarded For that by the Perswasion and Money of the French King a Turkish Fleet came last Year upon the Coast of Italy and made a Descent in the Country of the Duke of Savoy a Prince of the Empire where having taken the Town and Harbour of Nizza with all their Force they besieged and battered the Castle and that though upon the Approach of his Forces they were forced to raise the Siege yet they carried the War into other Places both of the Empire and of Spain having now nothing less in their Thoughts than to Ruin and Destroy all So that Matters are brought into extream Danger and are in a manner at the last Cast insomuch that if the Enemy be not resisted with joint Hearts and Hands Germany might too late see and bewail its own Calamity That he had many times wished he could have remedied those Evils but that the French King having attacked him at several Places at once he could neither return into Germany nor join his Aid with theirs Now that the Turk did so confidently invade Germany and
Calumny That if the Emperor would not refuse a Peace they promised to assist him as also the Bohemians who had written to them in February and the Germans against the Turk That as for themselves some of them were indeed bound in Articles to serve the French King in his Wars But that some others had only for many Years entertained Amity with him and that if any run into France out of their Territories it was against their Knowledge or Consent as it might happen also in other places of Germany That after all they thought it advisable to give Audience to the King's Ambassadors and conclude a Peace wherein if they could contribute any thing they were very willing to do it At that time the King of England sent a great Fleet into Scotland who meeting with fair Weather arrived there soon after and took first Leeth a considerable Sea Port Town and then Edinborough the chief City of Scotland which because the Castle held out and could not be taken they burnt This happened in the beginning of the Month of May. In this Diet the Emperor in publick and solemn manner inaugurated Wolfgang Master of Prussia conferring upon him the Arms and Honours of that Magistracy which for many Years past had been possessed by Albert of Brandenburg the Brother of Casimire and George who marrying a Wife usurped it to himself and was therefore Outlawed by the Imperial Chamber Twelve Years before as we mentioned already However Sigismund King of Poland defended him as being his Feudatory and Vassal And when another was now installed as we said his Ambassador publickly protested against it as unlawful and that it should not derogate from the Right of his Master the King of Poland of whom the Land of Prussia held in Fiefe The Ambassadors of Hungary having given a Relation of their Misfortune and Loss the Year before implored the Assistance of the Empire for that now they were reduced to the last push and should they be deserted would take the Course that Men in Dispair commonly do and which no Body can blame them for That they would submit to the worst of Conditions nay and to Bondage too rather than run voluntarily into Ruine and Destruction whilst their Neighbours stood by and look'd on as Idle Spectators We told you before that the French Kings Herald was sent back from Spire without effecting any thing When therefore the Ambassadors returned Home they published in Print the Speech which they were to have made in the Assembly of the States They begin with complemental Insinuations to curry Favour affirming both Nations to have been Originally one and the same and that nothing could befal Germany but France must be affected therewith Then they wipe off the Imputations of their Enemies That the King did now disturb Christendom with another War and had made a League with the Turk using a wheadling Preface to stroak and claw the Emperor the former War they say was first begun because their King could not obtain from the Duke of Savoy his Mother's Inheritance and that this last because contrary to the Law of Nations his Ambassadors had been Murthered That the King had no League with the Turk nor any traty but only for Trade and publick Peace sake such as the Venetians Polonians and some other People had Though if there were any League betwixt them it could not be objected as a Crime since the same thing had been anciently done by Abraham and David Solomon and Phineas the Children of Tobias and the Macchabees And since that also by the Emperors Honorius Constantine Theodosius the Younger Justinian the Second Paleologus Leo Frederick the First and Second who made use of the Assistance of Nations of a different Religion And that Frederick the Second was upon the very Shoulders of the Saracens carried back again into Italy out of which he had been driven by the Popes That they themselves knew what Forces and Aid the King had oftner than once promised to send to the Turkish War the Truth whereof could be amply attested both by the Pope and College of Cardinals That if the Turk had invaded Hungary upon occasion of the Quarrel that arose about the Government and that being afterwards more provoked by the War in Barbary and the taking of Tunis he had lately sent a Fleet upon the Coast of Italy the King was not to be blamed therefore That it made nothing to the purpose that Paulain the King's Minister was on Board in that Fleet for that Barbarossa's Design was to find out and be Revenged on his Enemy Andrea Doria but that failing therein he had of his own Head besieged the Castle of Nizza That the King indeed had a Truce with the Turk as he had told them at another time which was both honourable and hurtful to no Man That he could not now be charged with that as a Crime since many times and that lately too the greatest of Men had desired it That the King was extreamly grieved at the afflicted State of Christendom but that the only way of restoring Peace was for the Emperor to give back to the King what by all Law and Justice belonged to him That if they would bring this about the King would spare neither Labour Rest nor Danger to defend Germany from all foreign Violence In the former Books you have been told that the Duke of Saxony would not acknowledge Ferdinand for King of the Romans Now in this Diet the matter was in the Month of May accommodated and the Duke promised to honour him accordingly The Emperor on the other Hand ratified the Marriage contracted betwixt the Duke of Saxony and the Family of Cleve which till then he had constantly refused to do and if the Duke of Cleve should die without Male issue he confirmed his Succession to the Duke of Saxony who had married his Sister and to the Heirs Male procreated of their Bodies But upon this Condition if there were no Difference in Religion when the Case happened As a closer Link of Friendship too King Ferdinand with the Emperor's Consent betrothed his Daughter the Lady Eleanor to the Duke of Saxony's eldest Son if he proved right in Relgion before she were Marriageable This last thing was a great Secret and kept under profound Silence on both sides insomuch that neither the Lantgrave nor his Confederates knew any thing of it for the matter was contracted by a few Counsellors to wit Granvell for the Emperor Hoffman for King Ferdinand and Pontane and Burcart for the Duke of Saxony The King of Denmark also sent Ambassadors and made a final Agreement with the Emperor having all the Winter long and till then kept an Army on foot against future Contingences He seemed to have forsaken the Amity of France because of the Report of the Turkish League for the Ambassadors expressed little less when they discoursed more familiarly with their Friends Let us now return to
sad Havock in all maritime Places which belonged either to the Emperor or Empire that he pass'd by in his Voyage but he spared the Popes Territories at the French Kings desire as it is credible The Imperial Army advancing took the Town and Castle of Liney three Miles from Bar from thence they marched to Sandizier a Town under the Dominion of France upon the River Marne It was kept out by a strong Garrison commanded by Landrey he who the Year before valiantly defended Landrecy against the Emperor and the English Whilst these things were acting Anthony Duke of Lorrain died not so much for Age as of Grief and Trouble that he conceived at the neighbouring and almost domestick War. To him succeeded his Son Francis who as we said before had married the Emperor's Sister's Daughter At this time the King of England crossed the Sea with a great Army and came to Calais Afterwards he besieged Montrevil having in his Army Maximilian Count to Buren who served him by the Emperor's Order From thence he marched to Boloigne a Sea Port Town and besieged it The Emperor laid Siege to Sandizier and after he had battered the Place gave the Assault on the Thirteeth of July but having lost about Five hundred Men and the Towns-people making a brave Resistance he was obliged to desist and had not the Town till Two Months after that Landrey being killed by the fall of a House and they wanted Powder within it was surrendered to him During that Siege Renate Prince of Orange received a Shot whereof next day after he died to the Emperor 's great grief having made his Cousin William the Count of Nassaw's Son his Heir The Protestant Ambassadors were then in Lorrain for confirming the Articles of Sequestration lately proposed by the Emperor They stopp'd first at Metz and then at Toul from whence by frequent Letters they gave the Emperor and Granvell an Account of the Businesses they were come about But at length the Emperor excusing himself as being hurried with the Affairs of War ordered them to return home putting off the whole Matter to the next Diet of the Empire or to a more convenient time Sandizier being taken the Emperor August the Twenty fifth advanced with his Army and leaving Chalons a Town of Champaigne encamped by the River of Marne on the other side whereof lay some Troops of French Horse to defend the Passage There Count William of Furstemburg who was well acquainted with all the Ways and Passes in France went out of the Camp in the Night time with one Servant only to wait on him that he might discover where the River was fordable and the Army might pass it Having therefore taken a Peasant for his Guide who shewed him a Ford he passed over the River but falling in amongst some French Horse on the other side he was taken and carried to the French Camp with great Derision and not without Reproached for that in the French Service before he had got a great deal of Gold and carried it with him out of France From thence he was sent Prisoner to Paris This Accident happened quite contrary to the Emperor's Expectation and held him some time in Suspence The French King all this while declined a Battle because the Swisse had not as yet joined him And the Emperor removing his Camp marched forward along the Marne There was a great Magazine of Provisions and Ammunition in the Town of Espernon on his March but the French that it might not fall into the Enemy's Hands partly removed it down the River in a great Tumult and Confusion and burnt what they could not carry away they themselves setting Fire to the town wherefore the Emperor without any Opposition came to Chasteaâ—-Thiery a Town upon the same River not Two Days Journey from Paris And though the French King's Ambassadors sent to treat of Peace were in the Emperor's Camp yet he advanced forward still so that being come thus far incredible was the Consternation at Paris all fled who had any considerable Estates nor could the King's Edicts and Proclamations stay them none but the Rabble remaining in the City So that this vast and rich City was now in danger of being plundered by their own Rascality that stayed in it There was a vast number of Students there from all parts of Europe almost these also fled and the King had likewise by Proclamation commanded all Strangers to depart immediately upon pain of Death this was in the beginning of September Some Days after the King of England having much shattered and battered Boloigne had it surrendered unto him which was more then his Father and all the Kings before him could ever atchieve At length on the Twenty Fourth of September the Emperor concluded a Peace with the French King at Soissons after he was come from Chasteaâ—-Thiery The Commissioners who treated the Peace were on the Emperor's part Gonzaga Vice-Roy of Sicily and Granvell For the King were Claude d' Annebaud Admiral of France Charles de Nucil and Gilbert Bajara Now these were the Conditions That whatever had been taken on either side since the Truce of Nice or Nizza should be restored That the French King should deliver back the Town of Asâ—eney to the Duke of Lorrain because it was a Dependance on the Province of Luxemburg That they should mutually assist one another with all their Force for restoring the ancient Religion and the Unity of the Church That the French King should assist the Emperor in the Turkish War with Six hundred Horse and Ten thousand Foot That he should renounce all Claim and Title to Arragon Naples Flanders Artois and Guelderland That the Emperor on the other Hand should renounce all Pretensions to the Bolonese Peron and other Towns situated upon the River of Soame as also to low Burgundy and the Country of Mascon Again That he should give in Marriage to Charles Duke of Orleans the King's Son his own eldest Daughter the Lady Mary or the Daughter of King Ferdinand his Brother and that he should have Four Months time to declare which of the Two he would give If he gave his Daughter that she should have in Dowry Brabant Guelderland Luxemburg Limburg Flanders Holland Hainault Artois Namure Freiseland Vtrecht and all his Provinces in the Netherlands with the Dutchy of Burgundy to be possessed and enjoyed by them after his Death The French King in that case for him and his Heirs renouncing all Right and Title to Milan but that if the Emperor's Daughter should die without Issue then the Duke of Orleans should leave the aforementioned Possession and the King retain his Right to Milan as the Emperor to the Inheritance of the House of Burgundy If he gave King Ferdinand's Daughter that the Dutchy of Milan should be her Dowry That with which of the Two the Marriage were it should be accomplished within a Year and the French King should restore the Duke of
Savoy to all that he had taken from him That the French King should also keep Hesdin And that the Emperor should use all his Endeavours to procure a Peace betwixt England and France That as to the Duke of Cleve since the King and Queen of Navarre did affirm that their Daughter never consented to that Marriage but on the contrary had protested against it in the solemn and usual manner the French King should within Six Weeks send that Protestation to the Emperor that he might consider what was to be done In this Peace were comprehended the Pope King Ferdinand the Kings of Portugal Poland and Denmark the Venetians and Switzers the Dukes of Savoy Lorrain Florence Ferrara Mantua and Vrbin the States of Genoa Luca and Siena the Princes Electors and States of the Empire that were obedient to the Emperor The Peace being concluded the Emperor dismissed his Forces and returned home from Soissons All Men wondered at this Pacification for the Emperors familiar Friends promised themselves certain Victory before the Emperor took the Field and bragg'd that within a few Months France should be their own or at least the King become Tributary having Three such powerful Enemies against him the Emperor the Empire and the King of England The End of the Fifteenth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XVI The CONTENTS The Pope writes to the Emperour admonishing and expostulating with him sharply threatens his first-begotten Son and the same year promotes a great many new Cardinals A Council is again called The Clergy and Colledge of Cologne once more vigorously withstand their Archbishop Peter Bruly having preached the Reformed Religion at Tournay is therefore burnt alive The Divines of Paris assemble at Melun During the Diet at Wormes wherein many things are handled they of Merindolle and Cabrieres commonly called the Waldeneses are miserably harassed and at length turn'd out of all Though the Pope had called a Council yet he is wholly bent upon a War against the Protestants Luther publishes a little Book wherein he sets him off in his colours Grignian is sent Embassadour to the Protestants that he may perswade them to approve the Council The Emperour cites the Archbishop of Cologne to appear before him A hot War between the Kings of England and France The Duke of Orleans dies A War breaks out betwixt Henry Duke of Brunswick and the Landgrave wherein the latter prevails The Elector Palatine embraces the Reformed Religion Rumour of War against the Protestants is spread abroad A Conference appointed at Ratisbonne about matters of Religion This being broken up a Council is called at Trent and the Sessions begin Luther in the mean time dies IN the heat of War the Pope sends Letters to the Emperour bearing date August 23. acquainting him that he had an account of what nature the Decrees were which he had lately made at Spire but that in discharge of his own Duty and for the love he bore to him he could not dissemble his thoughts concerning them and that the Example of Eli the High-Priest was a warning to him to do so whom God severely punished for his too great indulgence to his Sons That in the same manner since these Decrees tended to the danger of his own Soul and great disturbance of the Church he could not but give him this Admonition First then that he should not leave the uniform practice of the Church nor customs of his Forefathers but carefully observe the same Discipline Method and Rule which Method is that when any Debate happens about Religion the whole Decision ought to be referred to the Church of Rome Whereas he lately in appointing a General and National Council and a Diet of the Empire had had no regard to him who by Divine and Humane Right hath alone power of calling Councils and determining matters of Religion Nor was that all he was to be blamed for but also that he allowed not only private men but even the Asserters of damned Heresies to judge of Religion that he gave judgment concerning Ecclesiastical Possessions and the Controversies that arose about them that he restored to Honours and Dignity such as were out of the Communion of the Church and long ago condemned by his own Edicts without the consent of those who persevered in their ancient Allegiance and Religion Did these things agree with the sacred Laws and Ordinances Nay rather did they not overturn all Discipline and Order That it was his opinion however that these things proceeded not from himself but that ill affected persons out of the hatred they bore to the Church of Rome had counselled and sollicited him to give some signe of his aversion to the same but that it grieved him the more to see that he should be drawn in and perswaded by them in that he clearly perceived the prejudice it carried along with it would be greater both to himself and the Church unless he repented That this his fear also grew greater and greater when he considered who the persons were with whom he had contracted friendship for that as ill company corrupts good manners so also it was very dangerous to make Alliances with wicked and vicious men That he made no doubt but they had used specious pretext to him since there is no counsel so bad but may be varnished over with some plausible colour but that in truth he who searches the Scriptures will meet with many and famous instances of the wrath and vengeance of God against those who had usurped to themselves the Offices of the High-Priest That Adversaries object Negligence to Priests as an odious crime and make use of that as a Spur to incite Princes whilst they exhort them to undertake the care and conduct of Religion a thing indeed that seems fair and laudable but which has no foundation in reason to support it That as in private houses the Master of the Family allotted to every one their several businesses and would not suffer any to set about the work of another lest Order might thereby be disturbed so also in the Church which is the house of God every one had his duty assigned to him which he was to discharge so that it was undecent that Inferiours should take upon them the Offices of Superiours and that that was so much the more to be observed by how much the Church surpasses any other house in greatness and glory That seeing then the chief Office of the Church is by God recommended to Priests it was a great injury in him to act their parts and take upon him their honour That it was known what happened to Uza who put his hand to hold up the Cart wherein the Ark of God was which was tottering and ready to fall That no man but would think he had done right when in the absence of the Levites he lent a hand to support the Cart which was in danger of falling Nevertheless that God's striking of him with a sudden death was
to deal more severely with him than either his custom nature or inclination led him to do But that he would by no means let it be thought that he had neglected his duty having always before his eyes that instance of divine severity against Eli the High-Priest That hitherto he had indeed used the clemency of a Father but that if he obtained nothing now by that means he must needs take another course That he would therefore consider what it became him to do and whether it would conduce more to his own honour and interest to assist his old age in recovering the peace of the Church or to favour those rather who aimed at nothing else but the rending of her into pieces It was thought that the Pope was put upon it by the French King on whom he relyed to write in this manner to the Emperour for it is credible that that King had put odious interpretations and constructions upon the English League that he might whet the edge of the Pope Hence that insinuation in the Letter mentioned before of contracting friendship with ill men for both of them are wont by Letters and Embassadours sollicitously to court the friendship of the King of England especially in time of War and severally strive which can make himself most acceptable unto him About this time Stephen Bishop of Winchester published a very reproachful and bitter Book against Bucer wherein amongst other things he defended the single life This year the Pope created Cardinals Christopher Madruce Bishop of Trent Otho Truchses Bishop of Ausburg Germans George d'Armagnac James Annebaud Kinsman to the Admiral of France French-men Francis Mendoza Bartholomew de la Cueva Spaniards and that to gratifie the Emperour Ferdinand and King of France About the same time also he again summons the Council which had been hindered by the Wars to meet on the 15th of March of the following year and because the Emperour and French King were now at peace he makes a great shew of gladness beginning his Bull of Indiction of the Council with that place of Scripture Rejoyce O Jerusalem At this time also Luther's Book about the Lords Supper came abroad wherein he renews the old Controversie and falls foul upon Zuinglius and his Adherents but it was afterwards answered by those of Zurich and that smartly too We mentioned before how vigorously the Clergy and Colledge of Cologne had resisted the Archbishop in his intended Reformation But he still persisting in the same by Deputies and Letters again sent to him they repeat their former sute telling him That they had earnestly desired two things of him some time ago First that he would desist from his purpose and expect the Decree of the Council and then that he would discharge all new Preachers but that he proceeded and would not condescend to their Supplications which must needs prove very prejudicial to the whole Province That therefore they again besought him by all that was sacred that being mindful of his own Duty and the obligation that lay upon him to the Church of Cologne the Pope of Rome and the Emperour he would remove those Preachers and defer the whole matter until it should come to a publick hearing That unless he did do so they must implore the protection of higher Powers and take such courses as might discharge their Consciences and avert the anger of God. That they were unwilling to proceed so far but that if he persisted they must of necessity do so When by this means they could not prevail neither October the ninth they meet in the chief Church of Cologne and there read over a Writing containing amongst other things what was acted at Wormes three and twenty years before when Luther with consent of all the Princes was condemned by the Emperour what had been done at Ausbourg Ratisbonne and what was lately decreed at Spire That since Archbishop Hermon had taken a new course and setting light by all these things had sent for Bucer an Apostate Monk twice polluted by incestuous Marriages and an Assertor of the Sacramentarian Doctrine whom he employed in the Ministry as he every-where also appointed lewd and profligate Wretches to be new Teachers of the people That by the same hands a new Model of Reformation had been drawn up and published by command of the Prince That they had indeed vigorously protested against all these Innovations and often but in vain besought the Archbishop that he would expect the meeting of the Council or at least delay till the Diet of the Empire That now the Province being in a deplorable condition and all things tending to confusion without any hopes of condescension on his part they were necessitated to betake themselves to the last Remedy and to appeal to the Pope and to the Emperour the chief Advocate and Protector of the Church of God and to commit themselves and all their concerns to their protection George of Brunswick the Brother of Duke Henry and Provost of the Colledge presided in that Assembly When this came to the knowledge of the Archbishop by a publick Writing he denied that they had any cause for an Appeal that he had done nothing but what was his duty and therefore that he rejected the Appeal hoping that they would let it fall of themselves but if not that he would proceed in those things that concerned the glory of God and the Reformation of the Church In another writing afterwards he refutes their Accusations alledging That he had no private Engagement neither with Luther nor Bucer but that he looked upon their Doctrine as being consonant to Scripture to be truly Apostolical and worthy to be embraced by all That Luther was indeed condemned by the Church of Rome but in a violent tyrannical manner without being heard That he knew nothing of that Edict of Wormes whereby they affirm that Luther was condemned before it was printed and published That whereas then they affirm it to be made with consent of the Princes that did not at all concern him to whom nothing of the matter was ever communicated That he never liked that Decree of Ausbourg concerning Religion And that when some Princes promised the Emperour great matters at that time and offered their lives and fortunes for maintenance of the Popish Religion he sent Orders to his Deputies that they should promise no such thing nay that in express terms they should declare the contrary But that they acted not according to their Orders and that the cause of their silence was known to some who now held the chief Rank amongst his Adversaries Which being so he was no ways obliged by that Edict and that though he might have been sometimes obliged yet upon discovery of the truth he was no longer bound seeing no Covenant or Oath that derogates from the honour of God can have any force or obligation That the Decree of Ratisbonne not only permitted but also enjoyned him and some other
Bishops to undertake the Office of Ecclesiastick Reformation That his sending for Bucer was chiefly at the instigation of Gropper who both personally and by Letters had very much commended him to him as might be made appear That he found nothing in Bucer that was unworthy or unbeseeming an honest man And that it was a great sign he was so that the Emperour had employed him in the Conference of Ratisbonne as a learned pious and peaceable man. That he had the same opinion also of the other Ministers of the Church appointed by him Afterwards November the 18th the Clergy summon the rest of the States into the City and require them to subscribe the Appeal The same thing also they demand of all the Churches and Bishops of the Province nay of some forreign Universities also and having turned out such of their own Order as refused they grievously accuse the Archbishop to the Emperour and Pope as shall be related hereafter After the Pacification at Soissons the Emperour sends the Bishop of Arras Granvill's Son and the French King the Cardinal du Bellaye to treat joyntly of a Peace with the King of England but it proved ineffectual he refusing to restore Bauloigne At the same time also the Duke of Orleans and the Cardinal of Tournon with some Ladies of the French Court take a Progress into the Netherlands to complement and congratulate with the Emperour The Emperour sends his Spanish Forces to Winter-quarters in Lorrain and the adjacent Countries In most places throughout all the Emperours Provinces of the Netherlands many were very desirous to be instructed in the Reformed Religion but secretly for fear of the Emperour's Edicts and the punishments by them inflicted Now some people in Tournay a chief Town in those parts had invited thither one Peter Bruley a French Preacher mentioned in the twelfth Book from Strasbourg So soon as he arrived there which happened in the month of September being most kindly received by those who had invited him he began to instruct them privately and having made a Progress to Lisle a Town in Flanders upon the same account he returned to Tournay about the end of October following But the matter was now divulged and a strict search made after him throughout the whole City the Gates for that end being shut In this imminent danger seeing there was no possibility of concealing him longer on the second of November in the night-time his Friends let him down over the Town-Wall by a Rope When he had reached the ground he sate down to take a little rest but one of those who had let him down leaning as far as he could over the Wall that he might softly bid him farewel forced out a lose stone with his foot which casually falling upon him broke his leg so that whilst afflicted with pain and cold he dolefully bewailed his sad misfortune the Watch over-heard him who suspecting what the matter was came running in laid hold of him and cast him into prison So soon as the news of this came into Germany the Senate of Strasbourg interceded for him by Letters which the Deputies of the Protestants who then were at Wormes did afterwards also but that was a little too late for before the Letters which were sent in the name of the Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave were delivered he was on the 19th of February put to death The manner of his Execution was severe having been burnt by a gentle and slow Fire for his greater torment He constantly professed his Doctrine even to the last breath and writing out of Prison to his Disciples who were also in many places in Bonds he exhorted them to constancy His Sentence was to be put to death for offending against the Emperour's Commands For many years before the Emperour had sent out most severe Edicts against the Lutherans of the lower Germany and the Netherlands under his Dominion which were twice a year publickly read over in those places that none might pretend ignorance When he was examined in Prison the Monks in presence of the Magistrates asked him the Question What he thought of the Sacrament of the Altar as they call it of the Mass Consecration Adoration of the Hosts of Purgatory the Worshipping of Saints Free-will good Works Justification Images Baptism Vows Confession of Sins and of the Virginity of the Blessed Mary To these he made answer That the real Body and Bloud of Christ was there received not by the Mouth but spiritually by Faith and that the substance of the Bread and Wine was not changed That when according to Christ's institution Christ's Supper is given to the Church in the Vulgar Tongue so that all may understand the use and benefit thereof that then these things are truly consecrated and that by the words of Christ for that that silent Whisper and Muttering which the Mass-Priests used over the Bread and Wine did better become Conjurers and fuglers than Christian Ministers That the Popish Mass had nothing to do with the Lords Supper but was a Worship invented by Man to the disparagement and injury of Christ. That the Adoration of the consecrated Bread was Idolatry because a Creature was there worshipped instead of the Creator That he knew not nor looked not after any other Purgatory than the Bloud of Christ which pardons not only the guilt but also the punishment due to our sins That therefore Masses and Prayers for the Dead were not only useless but impious as having no warrant from the Word of God. That Saints cannot be more truly worshipped than by imitating their Faith and Virtues that if more be done it is impious and that they when they were in the World were very far from admitting any Worship That therefore they are not to be invoked as Intercessors which is a glory belonging to none but Christ. That by Adam's Fall Mans Nature was wholly corrupted and the Freedom of his Will forfeited so that he can do no good without the grace of God but that a regenerated man moved by God like a good Tree brings forth good fruits That that is Faith which bringeth us salvation to wit when we believe the divine promises and certainly conclude that through Christ Jesus our sins are forgiven us That Traditions to which the minds of men are enslaved are not to be received That it was very dangerous to have Statues and Images in Churches for fear of Idolatry That Baptism is the sign of the Covenant that God made with us whereby he testifies that he will pardon our sins that it is also a sign of perpetual Mortification and a new Life which ought to accompany Baptism That this Sacrament is to be received by all and Children not to be barred from it seeing they also are Partakers of the divine promises That no Vow is to be made which either the Word of God does not allow or
the chief Authority About the same time also died the Daughter of King Ferdinand whom Sigismond the King of Poland's Son had married two Years before But glad-tydings were brought from Spain of the Birth of Charles Grandson to the Emperour by his Son Philip for which there was great rejoycing made by the Spaniards at Wormes but a few days after News came of the Death of the Emperour's Daughter-in-law The Marquess of Piscara came to the Emperour at Wormes bringing with him some of the chief Quality in Milan It is thought that the Emperour was then resolved to give the Daughter of King Ferdinand in Marriage to the Duke of Orleans and had therefore sent for them that he might learn of them the state of Milan which he had promised her in Dowry as we said before Whilst the Emperour is holding this Diet the Duke of Brunswick make a Progress to the King of France At that time Frederick Riffenberg was raising Foot Soldiers for the Service of the King of England upon the Borders of Saxony The Duke of Brunswick eying the occasion promises and perswades the King that if he did furnish him with Money he would easily disperse them and thereupon got of him some thousands of Crowns but after all he gave no disturbance to Riffenberg and made use of the Money he had received to make War with against the Protestants as shall be related hereafter None of the Princes as we said before came to this Diet neither Protestant nor Papists except the Cardinal of Ausburg but when the Emperour himself was come the Elector Palatine came also and at the desire of the Protestants made intercession Now when the Emperour perceived that they would contribute nothing towards the Turkish War unless they were satisfied in the Points of the Council and Imperial Chamber he sent Gerard Feldwig a most learned Man and skilful in Languages Embassadour to the Turk to treat of a Truce During this Diet the Senate of Metz made enquiry after those who according to the Popish custom had not lately at Raster taken the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and such as were found faulty they banished the Town It hath been mentioned before how that the Clergy and Colledge of Cologne appealed to the Emperour and Pope that by that means they might put a stop to the attempts of the Archbishop But seeing he still went on and would not remove the Ministers of the Church which was the thing they most desired they made heavy complaints of him to the Emperour and again implored his help About the end therefore of June the Emperour by Letters published at Wormes takes them into his protection and under pain of proscription commands that no man hinder or molest them in their Religion Possessions Revenues and Rights Then by other Letters he summons the Archbishop within thirty days either to appear personally before him or to send his Proctor and to answer the Accusations that were brought against him In the mean time he commands him to make no Stirs no Innovations and if any Innovations be made that things be restored into their ancient and former state The same Commands he lays upon the Inhabitants of Andernach Bonn Lintz and Campen for in those places chiefly the Archbishop had placed Preachers to teach the people Afterwards July the eighteenth Paul III. cites him in the same manner that within threescore days he appear at Rome He also cites Henry Stolberg Dean of the chief Church of Cologne and his Colleagues all well-born Gentlemen James Ringrave Frederick Wenden Christopher Oldenburg Richard Bavar and Philip Oberstein for these loved the Archbishop and disapproved the action of the rest The Pope indeed for many years had entertained a prejudice against the Archbishop which was in a great measure occasioned by Vergerio Bishop of Justinople who being Nuncio in Germany as has been said oftener than once before came to Cologne and hearing that he had a mind to reform his Church took him up for it very sharply both in Discourse and by Letters and accused him of the same after he was returned home After many long and tedious Debates about the Council Peace Imperial Chamber and Turkish War as hath been before mentioned on the fourth of August the Emperour puts an end to the Session telling them that because most part of the Matters could not be handled unless the Princes were present and that some of the Deputies had not full Instructions for acting in all things he prorogued the Diet and all farther action to the Month of January of the following Year and commanded all the Princes to come to Ratisbonne unless they should be detained by sickness promising also to be there himself That truly he chiefly wished for a pacification in Religion but that they all knew why nothing of it could be undertaken in this Diet but that at length differences might be made up he appointed another Conference of learned Men four on each side and two Moderators whom he commanded 〈…〉 at Ratisbonne by the first of December and to begin the Conference before the meeting of the Diet. Then he renewed and confirmed the Edicts of Peace of the preceding year and ordered that nothing should be done in prejudice of them What Money was raised for the Turkish War by vertue of the Decree the Year before he orders to be kept until the War be resolved upon and where it hath not as yet been collected to be forthwith with raised and gathered The Reformation of the Imperial Chamber he refers to the next Diet. In the mean time he allows and continues their Jurisdiction The Papists refused that Head of the Decree which related to the Conference of learned Men nor would they therein assent to the Emperour though they agreed to the rest The Protestants again repeat their former Plea saying it was none of their fault that the point of Religion was not discussed And what they had said before concerning their refusing the Council and Imperial Chamber they again insist upon urging the Decree of Spire the Year before and professing that they did not admit of this Decree of the Emperours wherein it differed from that How the Embassadours of the Protestants because of the sequestration followed the Emperour's Camp the Year before and how the Emperour referred the Action to another time we mentioned already Now in this Diet the Matter was finally decided and all the Dutchy of Brunswick adjudged to the Emperour Who forthwith commanded Duke Henry to try the Matter by Law and abstain from Arms. But he refused to submit and protested against it And when the Emperour again in a threatning strain and under pain of the Imperial Ban commanded him to obey he not only refused but also wrote back a sharp Letter odiously reflecting upon his Counsellors Granvell and Naves especially nor yet satisfied he began secretly to raise Troops that he
might recover what he had lost as by and by shall be related From Wormes the Emperour came down the Rhine to Cologne and from thence returned home The Archbishop of Cologne because he had been cited to appear personally before the Emperour or to send one in his Name within thirty days though by the ancient custom of Germany and priviledge of the Electors he was not obliged to appear before the Emperour without the limits of the Empire nevertheless sent thither a Proctor to make his defence At that time the War betwixt France and England was hot both by Land and Sea and the French King was building a Fort near to Bologne which he had lately lost that he might intercept their Provisions and that the Work might not be interrupted nor the English suffered to roam abroad he covered it with an Army Now it grieved the Protestants to see those two Kings in War who for so many Years had entertained peace together Wherefore when they understood that it would not be unpleasing to neither party they sent Embassadours to treat of Peace to France Christopher Veninger John Bruino and John Sturmey to England Lodovick Bambach and John Sleidan When on the tenth of September they were come to Amiens there they had the News of the Death of the Duke of Orleans who died the day before He was to have been the Emperour's Son-in-law or allied to him by Marriage as hath been already said and so a most firm pledge of perpetual friendship but now much about the time the Marriage was to have been solemnized an accute Disease snatched away the Youth in the Twenty third Year of his Age. At the very same time Henry Duke of Brunswick supplied as we said before with French Gold raises Troops as secretly as he could and having mustered Fifteen hundred Horse and Eight thousand Foot he marches towards Rotenbourg a Town in the Countrey of Bremen that he might joyn the Artillery of his Brother the Archbishop of Bremen But his attempt was in vain for the Senate of Bremen had before sent Men to defend the place Wherefore having marched through the Countrey of Lunenbourg and done much hurt in his passage he enters into his own Countrey and takes the Castle of Stembruck upon capitulation having afterwards wasted the Countrey by pillage and fire he demands satisfaction of the neighbouring Cities of Brunswick Hanover Minden Bremen and Hambourg for the injuries received from them and that they should renounce the Conspiracy of Smalcalde for so he called it if not that they might expect the worst Another Body of his Forces consisting of about Eight hundred Horse and Three thousand Foot having by plundering and fire harassed the Countrey of the Count of Teckelnbourg one of the Protestant Allies they pass the Weser and joyn his Army Whereupon he besieges Wolfembottle the chief Castle of his Territories and every where makes the People swear Allegiance to him The Landgrave in the mean time by orders from his Allies raises in his own Territories Seven thousand and some three Ensigns of Foot and about Sixteen hundred Horse and with that Body and Three and twenty Field-Pieces marches to Northeim Thither came to him Duke Ernest of Brunswick the Son of Philip being sent by the Elector of Saxony with a Thousand Horse Three thousand Foot Six thousand of the Forces newly raised in his Territories and twelve Field-Pieces Duke Maurice also the Landgrave's Son-in-law came in bringing with him a Thousand Horse about Five thousand Foot and some Field-Pieces The Duke of Brunswick having intelligence of this left the Siege of the Castle which was valiantly defended by the Garrison and drew off and having raised what Money he could payed his Soldiers who now began to fall off and then marching forwards came and encamped near to Calfeld a Village about a Mile distant from the Landgrave's Camp. In this state of Affairs Duke Erick of Brunswick and his Mother a Widow Lady John Marquess of Brandenburg Son-in-law to Duke Henry with some others mediate for a Peace But the Landgrave and Saxons affirming that they had no power to treat of any such thing without the advice and consent of the Confederates they therefore address themselves to Duke Maurice and intreat him that he would perswade his Father-in-law This he undertook and being come into the Camp which was on the sixteenth of October he propounds the matter and desires a Treaty The Landgrave in the same manner as we said before excuses himself So that next day some Troops of Brunswick's Horse draw nearer to Northem and skirmish with the Landgravians but being beaten off with great shot they return into their Camp. The same day towards the Evening Maurice again presses the Landgrave and because he had promised to Duke Henry and his Relations to use his endeavours he desires conditions to be proposed that if Duke Henry did refuse them he might have a fair excuse from acting any farther The Landgrave then offers such conditions as it was not to be doubted but that they would be refused Duke Maurice sends Christopher Elleben and Comerstat a Lawyer to carry the Proposals unto him But in the mean time News is brought that the Duke of Brunswick approched with all his Forces that he might possess himself of a Hill adjoyning the Landgrave's Camp. However the Landgrave got the start of him and having left three Troops of Horse and some Companies of Foot to guard the Camp draws out all his Army to that Hill and not long after both parties began to skirmish In the mean time Duke Maurice his Embassadours return and acquaint their Master that Duke Henry had answered frankly that he would refer himself wholly to Maurice and not trouble those of the Protestant Religion any more for the future The Langrave being informed of this and Duke Maurice pressing the matter hard after some little debate betwixt them the Landgrave tells him that the only Conditions of Peace were That he should give security not to molest the Protestants deliver himself up to Maurice surrender into his hands his whole Countrey and that he should stand to what Maurice should determine concerning the Charges and Damages of the War and the Controversie of Goslar The Landgrave gave liberty to Duke Maurice as Mediator to propose those Conditions himself telling him that if he received them after he had acquainted the Duke of Saxony and the neighbouring Cities therewith they should come to a conclusion Maurice sends again Agents with these Proposals who being returned affirm that there was good hopes of the matter but that in the noise and tumult of War whil'st there was nothing but clashing of Arms on either side nothing could be well done and that therefore there was need of a Cessation to treat of the Affair It was now towards night wherefore the Landgrave allowed a Cessation for the rest of that day and all next day until the
he had designed some great things against his Majesty or King Ferdinand for that amongst others there was a Letter wherein a certain Prince Elector writes back to him that upon those Conditions he cannot enter into that League and Confederation but that it is rather his duty to discover such Counsels which if he had not given him a promise of Secrecy he had certainly done let him not therefore trouble him any more with that hereafter otherwise he 'll disclose it That he had this and some others of that kind in his hands And if his Majesty thought it for his interest he might send some trusty Servant to whom he would shew these Letters and let him take a Copy of them from the Original The Emperour who then was at Bruges a Town in Flanders November the sixth sent Nicholas Conritz to the Landgrave with this Message That he heard how Henry Duke of Brunswick and his Son came into his hands and though he could have wished that he had accepted the Condition of the Sequestration nevertheless as the state of Affairs now stood he did not think it needful he should at present be punished for breaking the publick Peace that he trusted also he would make so moderate a use of this Victory that no man needed to apprehend any violence from him He put him in mind however that after the ancient Custom of Princes he would generously and civilly use his Prisoners and not force them to any condition unjust or beneath themselves but refer all to a friendly and lawful Debate and Arbitration wherein he himself would not be wanting in any thing that his Character and Quality required and that because he and his Confederates had no reason now to fear any danger he should dismiss his Forces and keep the peace and that if he had Complaints against any Man upon the account of assisting or associating with his Enemy he should try it out by Law and that therein he would do him justice When November the eighteenth Conritz had delivered this Message at Cassels the same day the Landgrave gave this answer Since Brunswick and his Associates had by more ways than one broken the Edicts of the Emperour and Empire he hoped the Emperour would openly declare how ill he took such proceedings That one of the chief of his Associates was Otho Count of Ritberg a Vassal and Tenant of his own whom upon that account he had punished that there were some others also on whom he might justly be revenged But that the Emperour and all men might see how far he and his Confederates were from stirs he had not attempted any thing against them but had disbanded his Soldiers since the case was so and that what they had done was upon their own necessary defence he earnestly begg'd that the Emperour would proscribe Duke Henry and his Associates for though he himself were prisoner yet his Auxiliaries ought to be punished from whom there was nothing but Hostilities to be expected that the Prisoners were used civilly enough and that he should make a report of the rest to the Duke of Saxony and other Confederates The Embassadours who as we said before were by the Protestants sent into France and England discharged their Commission very well but at the same time the Emperour also promoted the Peace and at Bruges appointed a day for the Embassadours of both Kings to meet The French King sent Claud Annebaud the Admiral the King of England Stephen Bishop of Winchester but the Treaty broke up without any success In the mean time however the Protestant Embassadours prevailed so far that both Kings condescended to a more ample Treaty and therefore sent Embassadours the French King to Ardres and the King of England to Calis and Guysnes On the twenty sixth of November the Embassadours met midway betwixt the two Towns under Tents in the open Fields where after that the Protestant Embassadours had proposed some Overtures of Peace the Matter was long and much debated betwixt them the French urging chiefly the restitution of Bologne and that the Scots might be comprehended in the Peace But the English plainly refused that the matter afterward was transacted betwixt the two Kings by Letters and Messengers and nevertheless after much treating nothing could be effected Wherefore January the sixth the Embassadours of the Kings and Protestants depart to their own homes The day after as the French were carrying in Provisions to the new Fort which as it has been said the King had built on the Shore the English attempted to have hindred them and so came to an Engagement but though many were killed on both sides the Fort was nevertheless victualled When the Protestant Embassadours whom I named were in England the King occasionally in discourse told them that they were threatned with a most dreadful War that he knew it for a certain and therefore that they should acquaint their Friends therewith A Privy-Counsellor also of eminent authority about the King at that time afterwards told one of the Embassadours the same thing naming some Skirmishers and Pickeerers that were to bring the business about The King seemed also vexed that the Emperour had the Year before made Peace with the French King and the rather he said that it was at his sollicitation that he had made War with France because of the Turkish League In the Month of January there was a meeting of the Protestants at Franckfurt Their Consultations there were about the Council of Trent the prolonging of their League the Charges of the War with Brunswick the not forsaking of the Archbishop of Cologne the solliciting of the Emperour in the next Diet that he would give peace to Religion and establish the Imperial Chamber In this Assembly the Deputies of the Archbishop of Cologne complain of the Injuries of the Clergy and of the Commands and Citations both of the Emperour and Pope In the mean while the Elector Palatine appoints every-where Ministers in Churches to Preach the Gospel he also allows the Sacrament in both kinds and Marriage to Priests and January the tenth instead of the Popish Mass in the chief Church of Heidleberg Divine Service was celebrated in the Vulgar Tongue The Protestants therefore by an Embassie congratulate with him and thank him that he had given a civil Answer to the Embassadours of the Archbishop of Cologne They also exhort him to proceed to profess the Doctrine of the Augustan Confession and that he would use his endeavours in the next Diet that Peace and Justice might be established To these things he makes answer That he was always desirous of peace and will be so as long as he has life That it grieved him much the Archbishop of Cologne should be so molested especially in his old age that therefore when they should send Deputies to the Emperour the Clergy and Senate of Cologne to intercede for him he would send Deputies along with them That for many
live quietly and allowed their Churches apart in your Dominions I should be content for my own part to allow the same liberty to those of your Perswasion throughout all my Territories but because you will by no means grant that we also are willing that there should be an equality in those matters what then I said before of the Decree of Spire and a Council of Germany I say again that I look upon it as the best course that can be taken There is no man living a greater lover of Religion than the Emperour said Granvell nor will he for fear or favour of the Pope step the least out of the way of Equity and Justice nay he hath also observed the Decree of Spire notwithstanding the other Party and the Pope too were highly offended thereat for which reason also the Hier Naves and I lie under envy and ill will enough But now in a National Council I cannot see who is like to be the Judge for all men do not understand the Scripture in the same sence and because there seems to be but little hopes in a Conference other ways certainly are to be thought on some Points are setled indeed already but again many are still under controversie and then Bucer gives a larger interpretation to the Points adjusted than the thing it self will bear Now if men go on at that rate it may be easily judged what state Germany will be reduced to You tell very acceptable News said the Landgrave when you say that the Emperour is not at all influenced by the Pope and would to God he might bring the Pope to know his duty Heretofore the Bishops of Rome honoured the Emperour as their chief Magistrate but now Emperours are bound to them by an Oath of Obedience In all Controversies the Word of God ought chiefly to be the Judge which is not obscure provided the mind of man would submit to it For it lays Sin open before us invites us to Repentance and Amendment of Life and offers to us Christ who took away the Sins of the World in whose Name also we are to pray to God the Father that he would bestow his holy Spirit upon us This is the Faith and Doctrine which hath always continued in the Church as the Lord's Prayer the Apostles Creed and several Hymns and Songs about the Benefits of Christ that are used in Churches do sufficiently demonstrate Nor is it to be minded here what the Opinion of the greatest part is but what is true For when at Jerusalem most of the Apostles and Disciples would have had the Gentiles to whom the Gospel was preached circumcised Peter only and Paul James and Barnabas were of a contrary opinion and having convinced the rest of their error abolished that yoke of the Law at which time the greatest part of the Assembly was over-ruled by and yielded to the judgment of a few that were in the right We do not indeed give Rules to other People but heartily wish that the Germans at least might agree amongst themselves I should not truly be against the finding out and laying down of some middle ways but so that the Decree of Spire should still be in force in so far as concerns the Peace and the Administration of Justice Now in other things it is to be considered what may lawfully according to the Word of God be established and what not But I wish the Prince Elector my Kinsman and Friend who has been present at several Diets and knows what has pass'd would now be pleased to speak what he thinks fit to the purpose Then he having spoken somewhat as to the Emperour 's good intentions declared his opinion to be that the Conference at Ratisbonne was well begun and that if it were renewed and the Points already agreed upon brought no more under debate he thought matters might be brought to a tolerable accommodation The Emperour answered Granvell is very much for an accommodation as hath been oftener than once said before for he-knows that unless that can be accomplished the Publick must needs suffer and though the Emperour reap not the least profit from the Empire and be besides indisposed in health yet for the sake of Germany he hath undertaken this Progress He entertains no secret Designs with the French King or any else nor is he come to ask Supplies but to do all the publick good he can The Kings of England and France are both raising Forces which is a thing much to be suspected besides the death of the Emperour's Daughter-in-law hath cut him out work enough to do in Spain Nevertheless he hath laid aside the care of all these things that he may repair to the Diet but if none of the Princes meet there what can he do alone He is much called upon and implored to interpose his authority and reform things and yet no body comes to the place appointed for publick deliberation It would do very well then my Lords speaking to the Elector Palatine and Landgrave if you who make the chiefest Figure amongst the rest would go thither and be present at the Diet. Though perhaps said the Landgrave the Emperour have no great Revenues from the Empire yet is it to be reckoned nothing that he hath aid and assistance given him against the Turk the King of France and others that the Dignity of the Empire procures him great Authority with all other Kings that he can always levy Forces and raise vast Armies in Germany which is not allowed to others Our Adversaries are more clamorous than we and yet acquiesce not to safe and sound Councils On our parts we have approved the Decree of Spire and demanded that the Points which five Years since were agreed upon at Ratisbonne should be confirmed and entred upon record and admitted also all the just and reasonable Conditions of the last Conference they on the contrary have accepted none of these things nor will they condescend to any terms nay and at Wormes they openly protested against the Conference Now for my own part it is not possible that I should go to Ratisbonne the Charges will be so great Besides there is a difference depending betwixt the Elector of Saxony and Duke Maurice which as it is referred to me because it could not be taken up by Commissioners appointed on both sides it is of great concern to be adjusted nevertheless I shall send Deputies with ample Instructions to the Diet. The Conference thus breaking up some hours after Naves came back to the Landgrave to assure him that the Emperour was pleased with that days Conference he again pressed him that he would come to Ratisbonne in person and asked him if he was willing to wait upon the Emperour again towards the Evening He declined not the proposal and so soon as he was come the Emperour gave him thanks by the mouth of Naves first for his coming thither and then because he perceived that the
have fully resolved by the help of God to stand upon their defence and resist this War which is brought upon them contrary to all expectation nay and to former Promises and Covenants too And therefore they have listed you and others for Soldiers with all the expedition they could But because the Heads of the League are as yet absent though within a few days they will be with us the most illustrious Prince Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg in the mean time that all things may be done in order and no opportunity given to the Enemy of doing us any prejudice hath appointed John Heideck a Gentleman of an honourable and illustrious Family to be your Captain in place of himself Him therefore according to the Oath you have taken ye shall obey and in all things so behave yourselves that the glory and renown which our Forefathers fighting valiantly against foreign Nations of old purchased with their best Blood may be by us also handed down to our Posterity All things else we shall commit to the care of the Almighty who without doubt will in this so just a cause and defence order all matters as to his Divine Majesty it shall seem most conducing to our safety and welfare The Reader has been told before that the Protestant Deputies left Ratisbonne when they found there was no good to be done in the Conference there but Forces being now raised as we said they meet at Ulm there to consult what was to be done Therefore June the one and twentieth they write to the Doge and Senate of Venice and complaining of the Pope's injustice beg that they would not allow his Troops a free passage through their Territories and by former instances put them in mind what they and the rest of Italy were to expect if the Pope's Forces did encrease They write also to most of the Nobility of Germany and urge them not to put a stop to the Soldiers who repaired to their Camp And being informed that the Grisons and those of Tyrol were much troubled at the approach of foreign Soldiers by Letters dated the last day of June they entreat them also that they would hinder their passage and for that end promise to send them assistance They demand Aid likewise from the Citizens of Norimberg but they excuse themselves as not able seeing they were hardly strong enough to defend their own borders They moreover July the second give orders to Scherteline to fall upon the Enemy that were raising Men near the foot of the Alps and lastly they send Embassadors to the Suizers It has been said before that the Cardinal of Trent was by the Emperour sent in post haste to Rome By his means and sollicitation then the League which had been before conceived and drawn up in Writing is June the six and twentieth concluded and agreed upon on these Conditions Whereas for many Years Germany hath persisted in great Errours such as threatened extraordinary danger for the averting of which a Council hath been called that commenced at Trent in December last and whereas the Protestants reject and disown the same therefore the Pope and Emperour for the glory of God and the Publick Good but especially the Welfare of Germany have entered into league together upon certain Articles and Conditions And in the first place that the Emperour shall provide an Army and all things necessary for War and be in readiness by the Month of June next ensuing and by Force and Arms compel those who refuse the Council and maintain these Errours to embrace the ancient Religion and submit to the Holy See but that in the mean time he shall use his endeavours and try all means to accomplish that if he can without a War That he shall make no Peace nor Capitulation with them upon Terms prejudicial to the Church and Religion That the Pope besides the hundred thousand Ducats which he hath already advanced shall deposite as much more in the Bank of Venice to be employed by his Lieutenants in the War only and for no other use but if no War happen he shall receive his Money again that moreover he shall in this War maintain at his own charges for the space of six Months twelve thousand Italian Foot and five hundred Horse who shall be commanded by a General and other inferiour Officers commissioned by him but if the War be ended before six Months expire he is no longer to be obliged to keep his Forces in pay That the Emperour by virtue of a grant from the Pope may for this Year raise one half of the Church Revenues all over Spain That he may also sell as much of the Abbey-Lands of Spain as do amount to five hundred thousand Ducats but all this only for the use of the present War and upon condition also that he morgage to them as much of his own Lands and because this is a new thing and without a president he shall at the discretion of the Pope give all the security he can That if any one endeavour to hinder this their design they shall joyn their Forces and assist one another against him and to this both shall be obliged so long as the War continues and six Months after it is ended That all may freely enter into this League and share both in the Profit and Charges of the War That the Colledge of Cardinals shall also ratifie this League and that what is said of June is to be understood of the Month of June this present Year And this League both Parties signed a Copy whereof Jerome Franco the Pope's Nuncio produced afterward in Suizerland as shall be said hereafter Much about this time the French King makes Peace with the King of England leaving Buloigne in his hands till the Money he owed him should be payed And Henry the Dauphin of France having a Daughter then born to him who was named Isabel for confirmation of this new friendship the King of England is invited to be Godfather At that time also the Cardinal of St. Andrews in Scotland was about dinner-time killed in his own Castle by a Gentleman whose Brother he had too severely used for Lutheranism after the slaughter was committed the murderer fled into England July the third the Pope wrote to the Suizers and insinuating into their favour upon account of the intimate friendship that he and his Predecessours had entertained with them he bewaileth that some of them through the craft of the Devil and the arts of Rebels were snatched away from the Apostolick Religion and him like dear Children out of the bosom and embraces of a most loving Father nevertheless that it was a great blessing of God that many of them continued stedfast and constant in the Faith towards God and his Church that so others who had been seduced by the perswasions of wicked men might have an example set before their eyes and at length return to the Religion of their Forefathers for
Protestants send Ambassadors to the Kings of England and France who as has been said had lately made Peace to sollicite them for Succours In the mean time after that the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave had written privately to the Emperour as we said before they publish a Declaration July the thirteenth wherein they alledge That this War was a War of Religion and that it was the Emperour's Design under a certain colour and pretext of Rebellion and as if he intended but to punish a few to divide and break the Confederates that so he might afterwards more easily destroy them one after another For confirmation of this they bring several Proofs and give a Relation of what King Ferdinand Granvell Naves and others had privately said at Ratisbonne to wit That the Contempt of the Council was the cause of this War. They affirm also That the Emperour had sent Letters to the Magistrates of Ravensberg who had lately received the Reformed Religion That they should within a few days desist from their Enterprise else he threatned to give their Town and Lands to be plundred by his Soldiers but that the Messenger was recalled with his Letters when he was upon the Rode leâ—t it might become publick that Religion was the Ground of the War. That the Archbishop of Cologne also was for attempting a Reformation excommunicated by the Pope and deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Possessions and Dignities and is threatned almost with the very same by the Emperour What was that if not a plain Declaration of the Cause of the War For it was no light Report that went about That the Cardinal of Ausbourg a great Incendiary in these Troubles was by force to be put into his place That it was also given out by some That when they were once vanquished and subdued Forces should be dispersed all over Germany to see that the Decrees made in the Council concerning Religion should in the Emperour's Name be obeyed and put into execution Moreover that many Letters gave an account That the Archbishop of Toledo chiefly and many other Prelates of Spain did contribute vast Treasures for the carrying on of this War which they would not certainly do if any Secular Interest were the cause of it That it was known besides what sort of a Decree it was that past at Ausbourg sixteen years since when the Emperour declared That he could not endure that Sect and Doctrine of Luther but that he and his Friends would hazard all they had Life Strength Blood and all that he might destroy it Root and Branch For should they indeed be subdued which God forbid then would it soon appear that no favour was to be shewn to this Religion but that rather having killed their Ministers ravished their Wives and Children they would again restore Monks and Friars and the rest of that filthy Rout That it was not lawful for the Emperour to use violence against any State nor to proscribe any Man without a Trial nor yet to call into Germany Strangers or Forreign Forces nor indeed to aspire to any Hereditary Right or Succession to the Empire because to these Conditions he was bound by a sacred and solemn Oath For could he in right do otherwise there would be no lasting Form of Government in the Common-wealth That they could not imagine what the Cause of his Quarrel was For as for my part saith the Duke of Saxony all the Difference that he and his Brother King Ferdinand had with me was two years ago wholly ended at Spire and to cement our Friendship Eleanor the Daughter of Ferdinand was freely promised to my eldest Son provided we could agree about Religion The Emperour approved of that then and when I was returning home from the Diet he sent Granvell and Naves to my Lodgings to complement me in his Name and to assure me of his Kindness and of his Good-will towards my Person Children and whole Country What Crime can I have been guilty of since that time that he should from such cruel Resolutions against me But the truth is this is our Case as we said before we refuse the Pope's Counsel and therefore incur his Hatred However he had no reason to act so nor to design such things against the House of Saxony for he knows that after the Death of Maximilian this Imperial Dignity being offered to my Uncle Frederick he by his Vote and Interest secured it to him not to mention many other good Offices which at several times the Family of Saxony have done to the House of Austria But if perhaps he be offended that I turned Julius Pflugg out of the Bishoprick of Numburg as to that I both asserted my Right in a Publick Manifesto and referred my self to any unsuspected Judges and Arbitrators that the Emperour might appoint Now as for my part saith the Landgrave I was fully reconciled unto him five years ago at Ratisbonne and if that some years past I intended to make War against the Bishops and did after assist my Cousin the Duke of Wirtemberg in the recovering of his own for all that and whatever also I might have publickly or privately acted against the Statutes and Written Laws of the Empire I had a Pardon in due form What then should be the Cause of Prejudice or Animosity I cannot at all imagine Besides when I was to wait upon him lately at Spire he was so gracious and obliging to me both in Countenance and Speech that I could not perceive the least sign of Displeasure in him It was stipulated betwixt us five years since at Ratisbonne That if at any time he should attempt any thing against the Duke of Cleve I should not at all meddle in the matter He made War afterwards against him and I performed what I promised and when afterwards he received the Duke of Cleve into favour again which was before Venlo he pardoned all that had served under him or assisted him in his Wars But if he be offended at our Absence and that we did not come to Ratisbonne both of us made our Excuses the Duke of Saxony by Ambassadors and I personally in a Conference at Spire But what Liberty or Form of Government is there then in Germany if that should give a good Cause for War when not only in former Diets but in the very same Diet also of Ratisbonne several Princes were absent And as for the War of Brunswick we cannot be blamed for it is lawful for all Men to withstand Force by Force We frequently moved and earnestly desired in several Diets That a Restraint might be put upon his Boldness but unless it were fair Words and Letters we could obtain nothing And nevertheless the Publick Letters which at our desire King Ferdinand wrote to Duke Henry were accompanied with other Private ones whereby Duke Henry was given to understand that he was not to obey them These Letters under the King 's own Hand were found in Wolffembottel and if need were could be
might be pretended and given out that Religion was not the Cause of the War as the Emperour now did Wherefore they caution all men but especially Collonels Officers and Soldiers not to serve under a Man who had violated his Faith and Promise July the thirteenth the Pope emitted a Bull wherein having said much of his own Care and Zeal for the Publick the Salvation of Mens Souls the obstinacy of Hereticks who slighted and rejected the Council that now was begun and made a pernicious War against all pious and good men he exhorts all Men in general to give themselves to fasting and praying confess their Sins chuse what Confessor every one pleased and then receive the Sacrament that so God might be prevailed with to prosper that War which the Emperour and He were obliged to undertake for the rooting out of Heresies and restoring Peace to the Church Now though it was the Emperour's design to have raised Forces with all imaginable secrecy and to have fallen upon the Protestant Confederates before they were provided yet such was their diligence and so great zeal and resolution was in the minds of Men to defend themselves in this War that July the sixteenth the Landgrave took the Field with his Forces though in the lower Germany Maximilian Count of Buren had an Army almost compleat and that it was uncertain whom he intended first to attack Before the Landgrave marched out of his own Country he sent his Eldest Son William a Youth of sixteen Years of Age to Strasbourg a City of great strength When he was upon parting Henry Duke of Brunswick sent him word out of Prison That if he would give him the hearing he would discover unto him when and how the measures of this War were concerted But the Landgrave who looked upon that to be a cunning fetch of his to attone a little for his fault or to procure his liberty declined the conference but the Duke would by no means discover the matter to any but himself The first Exploit performed by the high Germans who now were in a readiness was against their Enemies of Bavaria For when frequent intelligence was brought that the Pope's Forces having almost passed the Alps were drawing nigh the Borders of Germany they thought it best to prevent them Thus stands the case now They who come from Italy pass by Trent to Inspruck a Town belonging to King Ferdinand from thence there are two ways that lead to Bavaria where the Emperour then was either down the River of Inn by Copsteyne or else to the left hand through the middle of the Alps. Near the entry into the Alps on the German side King Ferdinand has the Castle of Erenberg standing upon a very high Hill surrounded with steep and abrupt Precipices and narrow Passes so that whoever is Master of that Castle may hinder the passage of the greatest Army that way Wherefore in the Month of July Sebastian Scherteline marches thither with a competent Body of Men by orders of the Protestant Deputies that were then assembled at Ulm as we said before and having on his march taken Fiessen a Town upon the River of Leck belonging to the Bishop of Ausbourg on the tenth of July he makes himself Master also of that Pass and Castle the Garrison having surrendered it unto him His design was to have continued his march along the Alps and to have taken Inspruck also and fortified it with a strong Garrison and so he would have commanded both the ways that lead from Italy into Germany and stopt the coming of Soldiers or Provisions to the Emperour by those places But the alarm being taken and by orders from King Ferdinand all the Country of Tirol being in Arms a considerable Body of Men came to Inspruck under the Command of Francis Castlealto Governour of Trent and having left a Garrison to defend the Town they possess themselves of the ways and passages Wherefore Scherteline having left Garrisons in the Castle of Erenberg and the Town of Fiessen retreats and marches with his Men to that Army which was raised in upper Germany and lay upon the Danube This Army which was Commanded by Heideck July the twenty-third took by composition the Town and Castle of Dilinghen belonging to the Bishop of Ausbourg and exacted of them an Oath of Fidelity to the Cause At the same time Maurice Bishop of Archstadt sent Messengers to the chief Commanders of the Army entreating them to spare him and his people and he would allow them free passage through his Country and furnish them with Provisions Below Dilinghen is the Town of Donawert which being summoned refused to surrender but when the Inhabitants saw an Army appearing to batter it they surrendered the place to the Protestants In the mean time the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave advance with their Forces and marching through Franconia where they capitulated with the Bishop of Wurtzburg for free passage and Provisions they hasten to joyn their Companions In their Camp at that time were the Embassadours of the Elector of Brandenbourg and Duke Maurice sent to negotiate a Treaty but they referring the matter to their Confederates there was nothing done in it The rich Merchants and other Banquiers of Ausbourg having packt up their Goods were already gone out of the Town but because it was reported that they lent the Emperour Money the Deputies that then were at Ulm by Letters and Messengers complain of it to the Senate of Ausbourg as of an ill thing and seriously advise them to take care that the like be not done for the future The Magistrates answer That formerly when they knew nothing of War they had lent Money indeed according to their Custom that it might not lie idle by them but that now they did not think any body did it nor should they go unpunished if it came to their knowledge that they did do so The Emperour was at that time at Ratisbonne and had as yet no Forces with him besides three thousand Spaniards about five thousand German Foot and seven hundred Horse The Spaniards he had sent for out of Hungary and they were the same who as we mentioned in the preceding Book had after the Pacification at Soissons wintered in Lorrain and having afterwards marched near to Strasbourg were the Year before sent into Hungary It fell out luckily for the Protestants that Peace being lately concluded betwixt the Kings of England and France the German Soldiers who had served the French King being dismissed listed themselves in their Service under the Command of Count Bichling and George Record who was the Landgrave's Vassal July the twentieth the Emperour by Proclamation Outlawed the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave In the beginning he gives a large account what pains he had hitherto taken that he might keep all Germany in Peace what Decrees he had made to that purpose whereby it was provided that no Force should be
fourteen are burnt for professing the Reformed Doctrine The Protestants having raised their Camp are pursued by the Enemy The Duke of Wirtemberg and some Towns are reconciled to the Emperour The Fathers of the Council of Trent make a Decree concerning Man's Justification The Duke of Saxony puts a Garrison into Leipsick and beats Duke Maurice out of his Towns. Henry King of England dies and then the Reformation gets footing in that Kingdom Marquess Albert of Brandenburg is made Prisoner by the Duke of Saxony MAximilian Count of Buren whom we mentioned before having compleated his Army which consisted of four thousand Horse and ten thousand Foot amongst whom were some Spanish and Italian Troops that had served the King of England against the French in the Month of August marched out of the Low Countries and past the Rhine above and below Mentz where-ever Boats could be had though the Protestants had planted Forces on the other side under the Command of Christopher Count Oldenburg and Rifeberg to have disputed their passage The Archbishop of Mentz was thought to have had a great hand in that matter So soon as the whole Protestant Army was come to the place we spake of they began with all their Ordnance to play most furiously into the Emperour's Camp. And then in a Council of War held in presence of the Duke of Saxony the Landgrave spake to this purpose Had I said he now the sole Power and Command of the Army as I had when I restored the Duke of Wirtemberg I would attack the Enemy at first with two Regiments of Foot only set the Pioneers to throw down their Works and then fall on with the whole Army But whilst some disswaded from that as a most dangerous Enterprize and others did not dislike it provided they could be secured from the great shot of Ingoldstat and that the Horse engaged in the very beginning of the Fight in this diversity of opinions nothing was done which was a thing so much found fault with by many that the cause and beginning of their Calamity and the Emperour's Victory is imputed to that miscarriage for they far exceeded the Enemy in Horse and the Emperour's Camp was then defended but by a very low Trench The Emperour then having born the brunt and thunder of that day's action so fortified his Camp next night that with more convenience and security he might act and receive all the impressions his Enemies could make And indeed the Emperour is said to have behaved himself with incredible resolution in this so great danger whilst he did not only not shew the least sign of fear or apprehension but also encouraged his men by his readiness to run the same fortune with them That the Emperour by his Treasurer of Burgundy sollicited the Suitzers we told you in the last Book to his Demands they gave their Answer in that Assembly which as has been said was in the Month of August held at Baden That they would not infringe the League which they had with the Houses of Austria and Burgundy and that they would recal those of their Subjects that were already gone to serve in the War and punish them as they deserved if they obeyed not Now this was the Answer of the Nine Cantons who as we told you were of the Popish Religion but the Cantons of Zurich Bern Basle and Schafhausen finding that the Letters of the Pope and Emperour did not both assign the same Cause of the War and then that the Copy of the League betwixt the Pope and Emperour which was shew'd them by the the Pope's Nuncio plainly declared that the War was undertaken for extirpating the Protestant Religion they told the Emperour's Embassadour That they would take time to consider what they should answer and stay till the Emperour satisfied them whether or not he would leave them the full liberty and exercise of their Religion So soon as the Emperour had Advice of this August the twenty-seventh he wrote to them from the Camp before Ingolstadt That he saw no reason why they should differ in their Answer from the rest and looked upon it as an effect of the artifice and subtilty of his Adversaries for that he heard how in the former Assembly at Baden they had endeavoured to perswade them that this War was not undertaken for the quelling of Rebellious Princes but that it was intended against some Free Towns to the end that with the Pope's assistance the Reformed Religion and Liberty of Germany might be oppressed that he had heard also how they had sollicited them not only for aid against him but also to enter into a League with them whereof he understood they had some hopes given them and that they were to have a positive Answer in the next Assembly That it was not now needful to repeat what the Cause of the War was since they had understood that both from his private Letters to them and his publick Declarations That it could not be made out that he had molested any man for the sake of Religion or given any cause of a Rebellion but that from the very beginning of his Preparations for War he had used most of them lovingly and graciously and more too than did either become his Character or their Quality and Condition Nor was it an excuse for their Rebellion that the Pope assisted him since not only of Italy but some Princes of Germany also and a great many of the Nobility descended of most honourable Families and some of them of the Augustan Confession too assisted them and ventured their Life and Blood in this War which certainly they would never do if matters stood as the Seditious falsly affirm But now that it hath been their drift all along under a cloak of Religion to baffle the Supreme Magistrate and having trampled upon the Religion and Liberty of Germany to bring the rest of the States into Servitude and Bondage is so notorious from many of their actions that it would be altogether needless to enlarge upon the proof of the same that in this manner under the sweet Name of Religion they had allured the chief Cities of Germany into a League with them and being provided with their Forces and Mony had invaded the Territories and Estates of other Men that they did now also carry all before them compel the Subjects of other Princes to joyn with them disturb many in the Exercise of their Religion and force them to undertake another course of Life cast men also into Bonds and Prison whom they threatened most grievously and after all spoyl and rob God's Churches which was a manifest argument that the reason why they sollicited them to a League was that by such an accession of strength they might the more easily bring to pass what they had before projected that he made no doubt but they saw these things themselves and well understood what advantage or disadvantage was to be expected from
Protestant Confederates had been with the French King they went to the King of England to negotiate the same thing with both But King Henry was then on his Death-bed for his Sickness growing upon him about the latter end of January he died in the eight and thirtieth year of his Reign having by his last Will left Prince Edward a Child of nine years of age his Heir and to him substituted the Lady Mary whom he had by his first Queen and the Lady Elizabeth by the second But before he died he condemned Thomas Duke of Norfolk a Peer of great Authority to perpetual Imprisonment and beheaded his Son the Earl of Surrey for some suspicious Words he had spoken during the King's Sickness after whose Death a Change in Religion hapned as will appear hereafter For though he had shaken off the Pope's Authority in all his Dominions and had made it Death for any Man to own him for Head of the Church nay though in the Publick Prayers of the Church he detested him as the Bane of Religion and Antichrist yet he still retained the Popish Doctrine as hath been said before He had caused his Son to be well educated from his Childhood and upon his Death-bed left him sixteen Guardians and amonst these Edward Earl of Herford the young Prince's Uncle To him the rest of the Guardians afterwards committed the chief Care and Tuition of the King as thinking he would be the most faithful to him of any and gave him the Honourable Title of Protector of the King and Kingdom The King also made him afterward Duke of Somerset He was both a Friend to the Reformed Religion himself and used his Endeavours also that it might be publickly received having perswaded the King his Pupil to embrace the same wherein he was chiefly assisted by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England a Man of singular Learning About the same time died also Queen Anne Wife to King Ferdinand the Mother of many Children whose Funerals the Emperour solemnized at Ulm. In the mean time the Citizens of Ausbourg moved by the Example of their Associates and their own Danger and having got proper Mediators amongst whom was Anthony Fuggher made their Peace and were received into the Emperour's Favour again but upon condition that they should pay a Fine of an hundred and fifty thousand Florins furnish twelve Pieces of Cannon and receive a Garrison of ten Companies of Foot. Scherteline lived in the Town and for many years had served under them and taken their Pay one that the Emperour and King Ferdinand could not endure because he had taken the Castle of Erenberg Wherefore though the Senate interceded earnestly for him yet because the Emperour was so stiff that otherwise he would not treat with them he was forced to fly the Country and with his Wife and Family to remove to Constance a Town bordering upon Suitzerland During the Siege of Leipsick the Elector of Brandenburg interposes and having sent Embassadors to both desires that they would refer the Matter to him The Elector was not unwilling but Duke Maurice blaming him exceedingly for pursuing the War so hotly six days after when he saw the Town was not likely to be taken began to answer coldly and be off on 't Brandenburg therefore presently acquaints the Landgrave with it praying him to perswade Duke Maurice and that because the intestine War of Saxony could hardly be taken up unless the Publick War with the Emperour were also ended he entreats him to bend his Mind that way The better to perswade he lays open before him the great danger he was in That most of his Confederates were already reconciled to the Emperour and that the Duke of Wertemberg was fain to capitulate upon very hard Terms That the Emperour was preparing fresh Forces and that seeing he was not able alone long to resist so great a Power as was against him he advises him not to think ill to submit but to capitulate upon the Conditions which he himself had drawn up and now sent to him by his Embassadors For seeing the Emperour's Mind was for many Reasons much exasperated the thing it self required that with a kind of humble Submissision he should beg Pardon That he should therefore turn his Eyes upon himself and Children and upon the promiscuous Multitude and not drive on things to the utmost extremity He wrote also to the Elector to the same purpose A little before the Protestants in the Month of November broke up and quitted the Field The Emperour gave Commissions to some that they should forthwith raise new Forces and carry the War into those Places which bordered upon Saxony that the States and Towns of those Quarters might not be able to give the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave any Assistance The Command of these Forces consisting of one and twenty Ensigns of Foot and twelve hundred Horse he gave to Joyce Grunning Governour of Zeelandt These put Conrade Count Teckelbourg one of the Protestant Confederates the Towns of Osnaburg and Minden the Count of Lippe and some others in those places under Contribution and compel them to take Orders from them They also take the Castle of Ritberg and from thence fall in upon Bremen Here served under the Emperour Philip Count Eberstein Christopher Vrisberger and Frederick Speed. The Elector of Saxony being informed of the Emperour's Success February the thirteenth wrote to the Senate and Council of Strasburg giving them an Account how that he had recovered his own and taken from Duke Maurice most part of what belonged to him in Thuringe and Misnia That he had made the Nobility and Gentry of his Territories swear Fidelity to him and that he had added to all the Bishoprick of Magdeburg But that Ulrick Duke of Wirtemberg and most of the Free Towns of Upper Germany should have capitulated upon so very hard Conditions and without mentioning their Religion and promised the Emperour Assistance against him and the rest of the Confederates was a thing that had fallen out quite contrary to his expectation and was wholly repugnant to the Tenor of the League That he heard well of them in that they continued constant which had been acceptable News to him That they should go on then and not faint acting as became Confederates and if they were harder put to it that they should defend themselves with the Aid of the Suitzers and King of France That it was his hearty desire he could give them all Testimonies of his Love and Fidelity but that he was hindred by a Domestick War which if it would please God to put an end to to his advantage he would not then be wanting unto them That the Deputies of the States and Free Towns of Saxony were now met at Magdeburg That he treated with them there about those Affairs for which the Convention was called at Frankfurt and that he was in hopes they would
generous Answer immediately departed and because of the Saxon-War went to Nordlingen Whilst the Duke of Wirtemberg performed this Ceremony of Submission there was a vast Crowd of People got together who being told of it before flocked thither to see the Shew In those three Places we named before of the Dutchy of Wirtemberg the Emperour had already placed Garrisons and chiefly Spaniards THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XIX The CONTENTS The Seventh Session of the Council of Trent is held When the City of Strasbourg had captitulated and made Peace with the Emperour he orders his Army to advance Shortly after the Death of the King of England Francis King of France dies The Fathers that were at Trent go to Bolonia The Duke of Saxony is taken in Battel and though he was condemned to die yet with undaunted Courage he professed the Reformed Religion Wirtemberg being surrendred the University is dissolved Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg earnestly intercede for the Landgrave who being come to wait on the Emperour is detained Prisoner King Ferdinand by Letters to those of Prague appoints a Convention of States A great Commotion raised at Naples because of the Spanish Inquisition as they call it Henry King of France is Crowned and the Solemnity of the Coronation described The Emperour by Proclamation puts the City of Magdenburg to the Ban of the Empire He sollicits the Suitzers to enter into a new League A Diet is held at Ausburg Petro Aloisio the Pope's Son is assassinated in his own House The English overcome the Scots in a great Battel The Protestant Electors are prevailed with and the Free Towns terrified A Contention ariseth about the Imprisonment of the Landgrave Means are used for recalling the Fathers to Trent but they who had removed to Bolonia firmly persist in their Opinion and Resolution so that there is nothing but Confusion in the Council of Trent THE Seventh Session of the Council of Trent was held the third day of March. In it were condemned all who maintain either that the Sacraments of the Church were fewer than Seven or that they were not all instituted by Christ who deny that one is of more Dignity than another who affirm that they are only outward Signs of Grace or Righteousness received by Christ who deny that they confer Grace who hold that no spiritual and indelible Character or Mark is by Baptism Confirmation and Orders stamped upon the Soul and that all have like power to administer them or that the usual Ceremonies of the Church may be omitted or altered in the Administration of the same who say that the Doctrine of the Church of Rome the Mother and Mistress of all others concerning Baptism is not sincere That Vows made after Baptism are of no force and derogate from the Faith they have professed who assert That Confirmation is but an idle Ceremony and was no more in ancient Times but an Instruction of Youth who deny the Virtue and Influence of the Holy Ghost to be conferred in Confirmation and who assign the Office of Confirmation not to Bishops solely but indifferently also to any Priest Then they make Decrees concerning Ecclesiastical Benefices That Bishops and other Rulers of the Church be lawfully begotten of due Age and conspicuous for Good Manners and Learning That no Man of what Quality he be do by any Title whatsoever possess more than one Bishoprick and that such as have Pluralities keep which of them they please and resign the others within a Year That those who have the Cure of Souls reside upon the Place and substitute no others to officiate for them unless for a time and so as that they have made appear to their Bishop that they had a lawful cause of Absence which is to be allowed of by him who is to take care that the People be not neglected that the Faults of Priests be punished and what is amiss amongst them reformed And then the one and twentieth of April is appointed for the Day of the next Session King Ferdinand being at Dresden with Duke Maurice on the eighth day of March writes to the Bohemians acquainting them That Duke John Frederick was resolved to invade them That therefore they should be upon their Guard and obey Sebastian Weittemull whom he had appointed to be his Vicegerent in his absence The Deputies of Strasbourg who as we told you went to Ulm being come back with the Conditions prescribed by the Emperour which the Senate did not dislike are sent back again to transact and make a final Conclusion Setting out upon their Journey then they find the Emperour at Nordlingen taken ill of the Gout and having March the one and twentieth made their Submission are received into Favour They had pretty tolerable Conditions for the Emperour put no Garrison upon them was satisfied with Thirty thousand Florins and did not exact above twelve Pieces of Ordnance of them The Elector of Brandenburg in the mean time bestirred himself affectionately in behalf of the Landgrave and applied himself also to King Ferdinand But very hard Conditions were proposed which were these That he approve without exception all the future Decrees of the Diet of the Empire That he give one of his Sons in Hostage That he dismiss Duke Henry of Brunswick and his Son and submit to the Emperour's Decision as to the Difference betwixt them That he send the Emperour a Supply of some Troops of Horse and eight Companies of Foot against the Elector of Saxony and the Confederates and that he pay them for six Months That he submit himself to the Emperour and openly confess his Crimes But he rejected the Conditions and acquainted his Friends by Letters That unless they were mitigated he had rather seeing he could not in Honour condescend to them undergo the worst of Fortunes The day the Emperour transacted with the Strasburgers he parted from Nordlingen to go to Norimberg And next day upon the Road having dispatched Letters to the States of Duke Maurice he tells them That forasmuch as that Outlaw John Frederick flying to his own Home had not only regained what the Prince Elector Maurice had by his Orders taken from him but those Places also which King Ferdinand his Brother possessed in that Country as Dependents on Bohemia he was now upon the march to come and repress his Boldness Wherefore he charged them in the first place that they should take care that in those Places through which he was to march with his Army nothing might be wanting that was necessary and that the Soldiers might be kindly used In the next place That they should despise the Threats of John Frederick and shew all Love and Duty to their Prince as they had hitherto done since the main Design of the present War was to daunt his insolent Fierceness and to settle Peace and Quietness amongst them The very same day he wrote to the Council and Magistrates
acquaint you with for my own Justification The very same day the States give Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg an account of this Relation of the Emperours whereunto they next day make answer to this effect That they now confess what hitherto they had always done that they had no cause to accuse or find fault with the Emperour in this particular but that nevertheless they had had several and private Negotiations with King Ferdinand before he went home from the Camp before Wittemberg and with some of the Emperours Counsellors though not many and that perhaps through a slip of Tongue some mistake might have happened which they will not much contend about That however it be they had for the preservation of the innocent Multitude and that Germany might recover its long wished for Peace advised the Landgrave when he had not the least apprehension of Custody or Confinement to come to Hall beg the Emperours Pardon and accept of the Conditions of Peace But now that he had lost his liberty and was still kept Prisoner to the great danger of his health was a thing that no man but must see did extreamly reflect upon their Honour and Reputation That therefore they did most earnestly desire them that they would joyn with them in an Address to the Emperour and beseech his Majesty that it would please him to have more regard to them who had faithfully served the Empire than to the Landgrave's Offence and not to suffer them to be any longer exposed to Obloquy and Censure but to restore him to his liberty especially since all the Conditions were in a manner fulfilled and that the Emperour had most ample security for the performance of them to the least title So then an Intercession was made in the common name of all and the Landgrave 's Wife prevailed with the Lady Mary the Emperour's Sister to second it but it was all in vain And because Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg said that they had past their promise and obliged themselves by Bond to the Landgrave 's Sons so long as he should be detained Prisoner the Emperour sent John de Lire to the Landgrave who then was at Nordlingen being removed thither lately by the Spaniards requiring him to deliver up all his Writings and amongst the rest also the Letters of safe Conduct and obligation of Security He told him That they were not in his keeping but that his Sons and Counsellors had them That although he should write to them it would be to no purpose for that they had told him at parting that they would not deliver them up before he were set at liberty That nevertheless if he might have assurance from the Emperour of the time of his enlargement he would do what lay in his power to perswade them to deliver all up The Emperour dissatisfied with that Answer shortly after removed his Servants from him allowing him but one or two at most About the latter end of November Peter Martyr a Florentine who had for five years with great applause taught at Strasburg went now with leave from the Senate into England whither he had been invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the King's Name and was made Professor of Divinity in Oxford His Companion that went along with him was Bernardine Ochino of Siena who being in high esteem in Italy for his Eloquence and the opinion Men had of his Virtue forsook his Monastick Life and embraced the Reformed Religion and going first to Geneva and from thence afterward to Ausburg published some Sermons of his in print Much about this time King Henry's Laws about Religion which we mentioned in the twelfth Book are by publick Proclamation abolished all over England and Images and Pictures removed out of the Churches which was the beginning of the Reformation there On the ninth day of December the Cardinal of Trent discharged the Commission the Emperour had entrusted him with in a full Consistory of Cardinals where the Pope himself presided representing in an elaborate Speech what Pains and Danger the Emperour had undergone for the sake of the Council and that now through his Diligence and Authority Matters were brought to that pass that all the States were willing to obey and submit to its Decrees That therefore by all that was Sacred he besought the Pope in name of the Emperour King Ferdinand and the whole Empire first That he would order the Fathers at Bolonia to return to Trent there to perfect the Work begun which was so very necessary for the Publick Good next That he would send a Legat or two into Germany that with their Advice and Counsel some Rules of Good-living might be established until the Council should be ended and that the Clergy might be reformed Lastly That he would also consider and determine that if the Pope should happen to die during the sitting of the Council whether or not the power of Election ought to lie in the Fathers of the Council or in the Cardinals lest if the Case should happen it might give occasion to new Commotions Five days after the Cardinal of Trent had had his Audience James Mendoza by Orders from the Emperour spoke in the same Auditory to the same purpose and besides That if the Pope did make any delay or excuse he said he was commanded by his Master to joyn with the Embassadors of other Kings and Princes and openly protest against the Council The very same day which was the fourteenth of December the Archbishop of Rheims who as we said already was made Cardinal the Summer before being by the French King sent to Rome makes an Harangue to the Pope and Cardinals In the beginning he commends the late King Francis that amongst other his Virtues he was so tender of the Rights and Liberties even of other Princes that upon that account he never declined Danger nor Cost That his Son King Henry did in no ways degenerate from him in Manners and Inclination who so soon as he was seated on the Throne and had performed his last Duty to his deceased Father had nothing more in his thoughts than how to make appear his Zeal and Duty towards the See of Rome therein treading the Steps of his Ancestors the Kings of France who had given so many and illustrious Instances of their Affection towards the Popes of Rome that they were justly reckoned the first and went before all other Nations in that Character And that since now adays there was a Race of froward and saucy People sprung up that opposed and railed against the Majesty of that Place it was a matter of greatest moment that at the same time a most potent King did as it became the eldest Son of the Church and Chief Captain of Christian People submit himself and all he had to the same Church for the maintenance and defence of whose Dignity he was ready to employ and sacrifice all that was near
Prince should send for him Mention has been made in former Books how the English had given the Scots a great overthrow in Battel Nevertheless the Scots persisting still in their Resolution and relying on the Promises of the French King Somerset the Protector of England and the rest of the Privy Council published a very long Declaration and Letter dated February the Fifth exhorting them to Peace in this manner Although say they the thing it self required that ye who have the worst on 't both in your Cause and the Defence of it should have made the first step and although we are now possessed of a large part of your Country yet we cannot but give you a friendly warning to consult your own safety Before the Battel that was fought last year we invited you to Peace and Friendship and declared our minds unto you but that Paper was suppressed by the great Men and Regent of the Kingdom and never delivered unto you for they are such that if matters go well with themselves they are but little concerned what becomes of you Wherefore if they use the same arts still and will not suffer you to be informed of our Purpose and Desire we openly declare by these Presents that we have neglected no Duty that was incumbent on us Many and most bloudy Wars have been often carried on betwixt the English and Scots and it is not to be doubted but that they who read History or hear of publick Affairs do much wonder that People of the same Country and Language should entertain such bitter Dissentions and Animosities amongst themselves and do not think it a most desireable thing that some way were found out whereby the whole Island might be united and subjected to one Government but that the most expedient way that can be thought on for that is Marriage all Men confess Now God in his great mercy hath pointed out this way unto you and dropt as it were into your Lap the fairest occasion that may be Your King after he had broken his Promise having lost a Battel shortly after died whether of grief or some other cause we determine not He had three Children two Sons and a Daughter and the Sons indeed might have stood in one way of any Condition betwixt us but both of them God removed almost in one day when they were Infants and left you for Heiress a young Daughter born a little before her Fathers death He hath given us a most hopeful King Edward the Son and Heir of King Henry What Do'nt you see a Bond of a perpetual and immortal friendship betwixt us prepared to your hands Such occasion hath been often wished for indeed but for these Eight hundred years never offered before Nor can they themselves who amongst you hinder the Peace deny the truth of this but alledge that we would by this means get the chief Rule and Government into our own hands and bring you into bondage and slavery But in a Declaration we directed to you a year ago we sufficiently refuted that and now take God to witness that the Kings mind is to joyn with you in the closest and most indissoluble bond of Friendship but if you refuse and by your obstinacy move us to War again consider pray who is like to bear the blame of all the common Evils that may ensue You promised in full Parliament your young Queen in Marriage to our King Contracts and Writings were thereupon made and sealed with the great Seal of the Kingdoms Many Cautions and Securities were given nay and Hostages too until both were come to the Age of Maturity These your publick Writings we have and they are a standing Evidence against you and 〈◊〉 Earl of Arran the Regent of your Country was not only present when the Matter was transacted but had also a chief hand in carrying it on though afterwards when the Cardinal of St. Andrews and some other Prelats had suggested to him fears and jealousies and put him in great hopes he fell off from the Agreement and violated his Faith. Him now ye are to blame for all the mischief that is befallen you that ye have lost so many Towns and Castles that so many have been killed in Battel and that we have advanced so far into your Country it is all to be imputed to him But what end after all do ye expect of this obstinacy and perfidiousness We are Conquerours and yet offer you Peace We are in possession of a good part of your Kingdom and yet invite you into England The disgrace that is commonly imposed upon the vanquished that when they are united to a Conquering People they should forsake and lose the name of their own Nation we willingly spare you and are content to take the ancient name of Britians which is common to both For the love of God what is it that we can do more Will not all Men say that we had a just cause of War when they find that such generous just and Honourable Conditions have been rejected by you We lay open unto you all the ways of entring into friendship and drive not your Queen out of her Kingdom but will Establish her and her Daughter in England Again it is not our thoughts to alter your Laws for both England and France and the Emperours Dominions also are governed by different Laws They who endeavour to obstruct the Peace scare you with such Bugbears but it is their own profit and pleasure and not your welfare they seek Turn your Eyes and Thoughts then off them and weigh with your selves the State of your Country Ye have a young Princess and Heiress to a Kingdom some time or other surely she must be Married and that either to one of your own Country or to some Foreign Prince If at home our Right and Claim is still good and it will be a thing that will occasion Domestick Troubles and Envy If you take any Foreigner you will both have us for perpetual Enemies and must truckle under the wretched Bondage of Strangers Succours you must seek from a far and it is not to be expressed what hurt and damage you 'll receive from the Forces that may be sent you and with what Pride and Insolence they 'll domineer over you For they 'll be persuaded that your safety and preservation depends wholly on their Arms and Protection What 's more they 'll take from you both your Queen and Princess and carry them whither they please and if they happen to have War on any other hand which is not impossible their whole care will be to defend their own and they 'll leave you in prey to us But if they send only Officers and no Soldiers these will imperiously give Laws to you and if any thing succeed prosperously all the glory must be theirs but if any disaster happen the whole Storm will fall on you who venture your Lives and spend your dearest Bloud You may be convinced also of the danger there
apprehensive of a change to lay aside all their fear and give credit to his Letters and Testimony And that as for such who went about to spread such Reports they were not to expect to go unpunished if they persisted to do so Moreover that by his Order some Heads were abstracted out of the Decree lately made at Leipsick which he would have to be taught that therefore they should enquire and learn whether the Ministers did follow that form in the Churches or openly condemned it in their Sermons However it were that they should give him notice of it that if any doubts were started the Divines of Wittemberg and Leipsick were to be consulted and that he commanded these things to be declared unto the People At this time died the Landgraves Wife and Duke Maurice's Mother in Law being heart-broken with sorrow and care for her Husbands Imprisonment and many other Calamities she had suffered There happened now a Popular Insurrection in England upon a double account the one was for enclosing of Lands for it was a Vulgar Grievance that the Nobility and Gentry had taken in and Emparked a great deal of Land which had formerly been Common and made Parks thereof for Deer the other Pretext was Religion for though the Devonshire-men were also against new Enclosures yet their chief Quarrel was for the alteration made in Religion and therefore they demanded that the six Articles made by King Henry the Eight which we mentioned in the Twelfth Book might be restored Since then they were up in Arms a thing of no small danger and would not listen to any Admonition or Advice the King and Council much against their Wills were obliged to send Forces against them that routed and killed some thousands of them The French King who exceedingly longed to recover Boloigne again laid hold on this occasion and partly by Storm and partly by Surrender took some Castles and Forts along the Sea shoar betwixt Boloigne and Calais whereby he reduced the Garison of Boloigne to great difficulties and streights The Nobility of England highly resented this Accident and because the whole Government was in the hands of the Protector the Kings Uncle all the blame was laid upon him that he had not in time provided the Places with Necessaries This Accusation and Envy increasing daily more and more the Protector by the joynt consent of the Peers was in the beginning of October apprehended at Windsor where the King then was and sent to the Tower of London The Nobles afterward by a publick Printed Proclamation signed with all their Hands declare to the People the causes of it and charge him with bad Administration of the Government And the Ringleader of them in this attempt was John Earl of Warwick Whil'st the French King is thus employed against the English the Emperour goes with his Son through Flanders Haynault and Artois making the People of those Provinces swear Allegiance to him and then both return to Antwerp about the Thirteenth of September There the Emperours Son was received in a most magnificent manner not only by the Towns people but also by the Foreign Merchants Spanish Italian German and English and being afterwards accompanied by his Aunt the Regent he visited the other Provinces also and received Homage from them We mentioned before how the Senate of Strasburg had sent a Deputy to the Emperour for adjusting the Controversy that they had with their Bishop wherefore with the Emperours leave Arbitrators were chosen on both sides to take up the matter These met in the Month of October and after a long debate the Senate allowed the Bishop three Churches that according to the Decree lately made he might therein have the Exercise of his Religion and took all the Clergy into their Care and Protection The Bishop on the other hand grants the Senate the College of St. Thomas for a publick School and all the rest of the Churches The Clergy also was to pay a yearly Tribute and some Money to the Senate and were exempted from all other Charged and Duties The Emperour as we said before prosecuted those of Magdeburg with Edicts and Proclamations and solicited the States of Saxony for Aid Most part did not refuse provided all the other States not only of Saxony but of the Empire also did the same But the Lubeckers and Luneburghers at that time having obtained leave from the Emperours Deputies went to Magdeburg with a design to make their peace but it was in vain No Man indeed attempted any open Hostility against them but being outlawed they were in continual dangers and durst not stir abroad out of the City without risking their Lives and Fortunes for it was lawful for all Men to fall foul on them The Senate therefore having in a publick Declaration complained before only of the Injury and Violence received from their Neighbours do now emit a Manifesto directed to all in general but chiefly to those that lived next to them complaining that Calumnies and false Reports went abroad of them as if they behaved themselves stubbornly and arrogantly towards the Emperour and Empire slighting Peace and publishing reproachful Papers but that therein they were wronged That they owned Charles the Emperour for their chief Magistrate and had by publick Proclamation charged all their People not to presume to utter any the least undutiful Expression of his Majesty or of any of the States that they had given no other cause of offence but that they professed the Gospel of Christ and that all the rest were but Calumnies forged by their Enemies That it was not unknown to them who had been present but in some few Assemblies how desirous they had been of peace for that they not only understood but had tasted the sweetness and comfort of it and on the contrary the miseries and calamities that attended War that it would be also a great grief and trouble to them if for their sake their Neighbours should be exposed to danger or receive any prejudice that moreover they confessed that it was neither lawful for them nor in their power obstinately to stand it out against the Emperour and Empire but that being necessitated to defend themselves from injury they had demolished some Houses and seized some Castles small Towns and Villages in time of War not indeed with a design to appropriate them to themselves but that they might not fall into the hands of Strangers nor would they refuse to deliver them up provided their Neighbours would live quietly That there were two main Reasons why they could not obtain a Peace first because they retained the pure Doctrine of the Gospel and rejected the Idol of Popery and then because the other Conditions proposed were not only heavy but intolerable to them and altogether such as could not be performed for that to betray their Liberty which had been granted them by the Emperour Otho the Great the first of that Name and
him Antichrist In the time of Pope Innocent saith it most wicked Prelate thou wast cast into Prison for two Murders and one Parricide thou committedst in poysoning thy own Mother and a Nephew that all the Inheritance might fall to thee Being afterward set at liberty thou didst not scruple to put in for the Purple Hat but thou wast thrice rejected by the College and it was thy Sister Julia Farnese that at length prevailed for thee for she threatning that his Holiness should have no more to do with her Pope Alexander VI. fearing her anger and displeasure thrust thee into the Congregation of the Cardinals You also poysoned another Sister for her Incontinence the common fault of your Family When you were Legate of Ancona in the time of Julius II. you basely over-reached a Maid of that City for dissembling what you were and making her believe you were one of the Legates Gentlemen you prevailed with her and defloured her which Villany the Cardinal of Ancona the Maids Uncle after the City was taken charged you home with in most severe manner before Pope Clement who then was Prisoner Nicholas Quercy surprized you lying with his Wife Laura Farnese your own Niece and gave you a wound with a Stiletto of which you still bear the Scar. What need I speak of your Daughter Constantia with whom you have lain so often For that you might the more freely enjoy her you poysoned her Husband Besio Sfortia who having perceived your naughtiness with her conceived such inward grief at it that he was never seen to look merry afterwards You certainly exceed Commodus and Heliogabalus in filthy Lust and that plainly appears by the many Bastards you have Lot lay with his Daughters indeed but then he was drunk and knew not what he did but you being sober have lain not only with your Niece but with your own Sister and Daughter also How foul and horrid a Crime was it that your ungracious Son Petro Aloisio committed upon the Bishop of Fano When Pope Clement was detained Prisoner in the Castle of St. Angelo and sent you Legate to the Emperour for obtaining his Liberty you would not set out on your Journy till first he had bestowed the Bishoprick of Parma upon your Nephew Farnese a Boy of Ten years of Age. When that was done you nevertheless deceived him and pretended to have been taken sick at Genoua How did you Traffick in Church Livings when you were Cardinal And since you become Pope good God! how have you squandered away the Revenues of the Apostolick See Are not you ashamed to have put your accursed Son in the highest place of Government with a Pension of Fourty thousand Crowns a year and have given almost as much to your Nephew Ascanio Not to mention the vast profusion of Wealth you have made upon all the Women of your Family and your Nieces the Santa Floria's After all this you dare to mention the Turks who now are ready to invade poor Italy and with the intent too that you may have some plausible occasion and pretext to pillage the People who groan under most heavy and intolerable Burdens through your Tyranny You sold Modena and Rhegio to the Duke of Ferrara You have alienated Parma and Piacenza which you never acquired to the Church of Rome a thing Pope Clement was ashamed to do To enrich your own House and Family you have unjustly opressed others and made War against those who either would not or could not submit to that Slavery Those of Perugia and Ascanio Colonna amongst others are instances of this He that raises an extraordinary Subsidy of his People of Three hundred thousand Crowns a year that often imposes new Customs now on Salt and by and by again upon other Commodities that exacteth now the Tenths and now the moiety of the Fruits and Encrease of the Ground that Man I say ought justly to be reckoned the Enemy of Christendom Since you were Pope the Turkish Fleet securely sailed along the Coasts of the Territories of the Church when Barbarossa cruised on our Seas Wherefore that secret Correspondence you entertain with the Infidels stops your Mouth from hereafter making a Pretext of the Turkish War. And in the mean time you have had the boldness to tax the King of France for entertaining Friendship with the Protestants and the Emperour for joyning with the King of England Is it not a most shameful thing that you should wholly depend on Astrologers and Necromancers It 's matter of fact and cannot be deny'd for you have raised to Honour and Riches many of them as Cecio Marcello Gaurico the Portuguese and others a Crime that manifestly stains you with Impiety and heinous enough to make you be degraded from the Papacy Many other things of that nature are contained in that Printed Book we mentioned Let us now return to the dead Body On the ninth day after his Death the Funeral Rites began to be celebrated and lasted nine whole days In the mean time all the absent Cardinals hasten to Town Trent Salviato Mantua Cibo de Monte Ausburg d'Oria Urbin and these were present at the Obsequies But he that came first was the Cardinal of Trent for he was at Mantua at the Wedding we spake of when the news was brought of the Popes death The Funeral Charges was reckoned to amount to Fifty thousand Crowns November the Eight and twentieth after Mass they went into the Conclave as they call it for the Election of a new Pope On the Fourth of December Cardinal Pacieco a Spaniard came from Trent On the Twelfth came the Cardinals du Bellaye Vendosme Chastillon Guise and Tournon and about the end of the Month Boloigne Ambois Lorrain as afterwards the aged Bourbon all Frenchmen besides there were some others of that Nation there already whom the King sent thither two years before as we said in the Nineteenth Book And now we are gone so far it will not be amiss to describe some things in this place There is a Palace in Rome called the Vatican adjoyning to St. Peters Church where the Popes keep Court and where upon occasion the College of Cardinals meet In this Palace among other Apartments there are five Halls a Gallery seventy paces long and two Chapels all which together make that Apartment which is called the Conclave One of the Chapels is designed for saying of Mass and taking the Votes in and the other which is called Sixtus his Chapel and those Halls we mentioned are for the Cardinals Lodgings At this time after the death of Paul III. the Cardinals being fifty four in number there were as many Chambers made for them In former times the Conclave had several Gates but now they are all shut up save one Besides there are no Glass Windows except in the Chapels and these too so high that they cannot be reached So that neither Air nor Light can get in to it and Day and Night they
fair promises of his Zeal and good inclinations towards Religion and the welfare of the Publick That so soon as this came to his knowledge he had thought that so fair an occasion of acting ought not to be slighted especially since the safety and preservation of Germany depended on it That therefore a course was to be taken that those things which had been decreed in the last Dyet and begun should be perfected and accomplish'd And then that care should be taken both that the causes of Division be removed and some obstinate and rebellious persons quelled That for these causes he purposed to hold a Dyet of the Empire and therefore charged and commanded all whom it concerned not to fail to meet at Ausburg the twenty fifth day of June and that nothing should hinder them from coming but sickness and of that also they should make Faith upon Oath And that they send their Deputies and Representatives with full Power and Instructions to treat of all things relating to the Publick that no delay nor hinderance may obstruct the Deliberations THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH BOOK XXII The CONTENTS A Peace is concluded between England and France The Magdeburgers refute the Crimes objected to them and prove them to be the Calumnies of their Adversaries The Emperours Edict against the Lutherans is published which astonished many Whil'st the Dyet is held at Ausburg for continuing the Council of Trent Granvell dies The Emperour takes Tripoly a Town in Africa George Duke of Meckleburg puts all to Fire and Sword in the Country of Magdeburg Duke Maurice and some others also takes up Arms against the Magdeburgers Pope Julius Emits a Bull for calling of the Council Duke Maurice commanding in chief against the Magdeburgers offers them Conditions of Peace The Clergy also publish an odious Paper against them to which they make a large Answer and refute the Crimes objected Osiander broacheth a new Doctrine concerning Mans Justification The Emperour makes a Decree at Ausburg for safe Conduct to be given to those that would repair to the Council Bucer dies Three Suns and as many Moons are seen in Saxony The Pope by a Bull heavily accuses Octavio Farnese and the Emperour publishes also an Edict against him In the mean time the King of France justifies him to the Pope The captive Duke of Saxony helps and comforts the Ministers proscribed by the Emperour The Council of Trent revived and an account given of the form and order of the publick Sessions The manner of framing Articles of Faith is set down The King of France publishes an Edict against the Pope A Relation of the beginning of the War of Parma ABOUT this time the Ambassadours of England and France after long and tedious Debating concluded a Peace and they were the more inclinable to it because both of them perceived the Advantages that some were like in time to make of their Enmity and Dissension Therefore the English restore to the French Boloigne that had been now whole six years almost in their possession at which many wondered though the French paid Money for it and the Scots were also comprehended in this Peace The two Kings having afterward sent Ambassadours mutually to one another confirmed this Peace by new marks of Friendship for the French King was made Knight of the Garter and the King of England one of the Order of France which amongst great Princes is as it were a Badge and Cognizance of Amity The Magdenburghers being severely lashed by the Emperours many Edicts publish again March the Twenty fourth another Manifesto addressed chiefly to their Neighbours First they alleadge that neither by the Law of God nor Man could they be convicted of Rebellion then they declare that they who take up Arms against them make War against Christ himself In the third place they refute the Crimes objected to them and affirm them to be Calumnies of their Adversaries And though say they the Emperour at their instigation hath Outlawed us yet we may truely affirm that we never as yet refuted any Reasonable Conditions provided the Doctrine of the Augustane Confession and the Liberty left us by our Ancestors were allowed us we are still of the same mind nor do we decline the performance of any kind of Duty that either the Emperour or Empire can justly challenge of us and we call God to witness that we have not given any cause of War or Commotions but are above all things desirous to entertain peace with all Men and by the help of the true Religion and Worship to attain Life Everlasting which is indeed the cause of all this hatred that is raised against us Now it is established by Law that as the Inferior Magistrate is not to impeach the right of the Superior so also that if the Magistrate transgress the bounds of Authority and command any thing that is wicked he is not only not to be obeyed but if he use force to be resisted also For that all Power is of God we think no Man will deny and if any Edict or Decree be made against him it is not to be doubted but that they may be rejected and disobeyed Now the Decree made at Ausburg concerning Religion is of that nature and therefore we cannot obey those who forcing it upon us depriveus of the Light of the Gospel and offer us the Idol of Popery that they may draw us into Eternal Damnation Which being so we cannot justly be accused of any Rebellion Besides it is obvious to any Man how unlawful it is to use violence against us since it is not we that are only struck at but that the great design is utterly to destroy the Professors of the true Doctrine and through our side to wound Christ himself and all the Godly for we are all the Members of Christ and therefore what else can they expect who defile themselves by so impious a Crime but the Vengeance of God Almighty In a former Declaration we took notice of some Castles and Villages sezed by us and it is needless here to repeat what was there said for so soon as we have assurance of peace we shall restore them to the Right Owners It is also reported by our Adversaries that unlawful and Promiscuous Lust is tolerated amongst us but it is a most Impudent Lye. We therefore beg of you by all that is sacred that you would not pollute your selves with Innocent Bloud but pray to God with us that he would confound the Bloudy Counsels of the Wicked and if any War happen to break forth that you will not deny your assistance Afterward in the Month of April the Ministers of the Church publish a Paper wherein they exhibit a Confession of their Faith and prove that it is lawful for an Inferior Magistrate to resist a Superior that would constrain their Subjects to forsake the Truth And here they address themselves to the Emperour beseeching him that he would not
being brought of the taking of Ausburg by surrender they fly for it Crescentio the Legate being frightened by an Apparition fell sick and despaired of Life what ever his Servants and Physicians could do or say to comfort him IN order to a pacification Duke Maurice held a Convention of his own States about the end of September at Wittemberg whither as it had been agreed upon the City of Magdeburg sent their Deputies who ten days after returned home under the safe Conduct of Marquess Albert of Brandeburg We told you before how Duke Maurice had by Letters interceded with the Emperour that his Divines might have a safe Conduct from the Council the Emperour therefore sent Orders to his Ambassadors to prefer the Matter to the Fathers and bring it to pass A Session was then held on the eleventh of October wherein was read first a Decree explaining the Doctrine of the Corporal Presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist of the manner of its Institution of Transubstantiation as they call it of the Worship and Adoration of this Sacrament of keeping of the Host and of carrying it about to the Sick and of the Preparation that is required for the worthy Receiving thereof And then all Christians are forbidden to believe or teach otherwise than according to the Doctrine of that Decree Then were the Canons read over and in them were all the Points condemned which as we said before had been drawn out of the Books of Luther and others nevertheless to comply with the Emperour they left four of them undecided â—o wit Whether or not it be necessary to Salvation and commanded by the Law of God that all receive the Sacrament in both kinds whether he who receives it only in one kind receives less than he who takes it in both whether the Church erred when she appointed that the Priests only should receive in both kinds and the rest under one whether the Sacrament be to be given also to young Children The Protestants they said desired to be heard as to these Points before the Council determined any thing in them and to have a safe Conduct to come Since therefore they had hitherto earnestly lookt for their coming and were in good hopes that they might return to the ancient Unity and Concord of the Church they granted them a safe conduct to come and return home and did defer the decision of these Points 'till the twenty fifth day of January that by that day they might be present and alledge what they had to say That then also because of the Affinity that was betwixt the two the Sacrifice of the Mass should be handled These things then were publickly read by them as if their Adversaries had desired only to be heard concerning those matters whereas no such thing had ever entered into their Thoughts Besides Duke Maurice no body had made address to the Emperour and he also did it in the manner we mentioned before there being far greater matters to be propounded than those were But what the design was in giving out that Sham one may guess it though nothing can be positively affirmed though one of two it must needs be for either they had had a lame and sinistrous account of Duke Maurice's demand or they themselves cunningly misunderstood it which is the more likely of the two because of the safe Conduct which they gave for when Duke Maurice desired a safe Conduct for his People in the same form and manner as the Bohemians of old obtained one They in a few words and very superficially drew up a draught without the usual formalities to wit that all Germans indifferently might come to the Council and freely debate confer and treat about the Matters there to be handled either in full Council or with some Commissioners appointed and that either by Word or Writing as they pleased without contumelious and reproachful Language or Reflections and when they should think fit to depart and return home that the Council as to that granted them safe Conduct so far as was in their power And that they might also for the Crimes committed or to be committed though they were most grievous and savoured of Heresie choose to themselves Judges at their own discretion The same day the eleventh of October they made some Canons touching Reformation which related to their own Jurisdiction And then the twenty fifth of November was appointed to be the day of the next Session when Penance and Extream Unction should be handled Joachim Elector of Brandeburg sent also his Ambassador Christopher Strassen a Lawyer to offer his Duty and Obeisance and the Ambassador made a long Harangue indeed concerning the good Intentions of his Master They make answer That with great pleasure they had heard all his Speech especially that part of it wherein the Prince submits himself wholly to the Council and promises to observe the Decrees thereof that they were in hopes that what had been now said by him would be effectually performed by the Prince his Master Upon the death of John Albert who had enjoyed the spacious and rich Archbishoprick of Magdeburg as we said Frederick the Elector of Brandeburg's Son was by the Chapter chosen Archbishop But the Matter stuck at Rome and could not be dispatched it being a great Obstacle in the way that as it was publickly known the Elector Joachim had before been of the Protestant Religion To remove that suspicion therefore was the Ambassador whom I named sent who used his utmost diligence by sawning and cajoling to work upon the Prelates Peace was concluded at Wittemberg and though the Siege was not presently raised yet October the twelfth they began to have friendly Meetings together At the same time Duke Maurice made those of Catzenelbogen a People of the Dominion of Hess who three years before had by the Emperour's Sentence been taken from the Landgrave then Prisoner as we said before to swear Allegiance to him with the consent of the Landgrave's Sons and that because of an Hereditary League as he said betwixt the Houses of Hess and Saxony whereby for want of Heirs Male the one is to succeed to the other No Man doubted but that this was an injury done to the Emperour who had pronounced the Sentence and that it tended to some new commotion and all wondred what would come on 't yet hardly any notice was taken of it in the Emperour's Court but all was seemingly connived at About this time the Duke of Somerset Uncle to the King of England was a second time apprehended and with him the Lord Paget the Lord Gray and some others John Duke of Northumberland had then the chief Government and the reason of his apprehension was said to be That he had conspired the death of Northumberland as he himself alledged for that by a late Law was made Felony amongst them About the fifteenth of October the Pope made George Martinhausen
you left at home that they look carefully about them that no sudden surprize happen and that they consult with their Neighbours whom they think they can safely trust And if I can do you any kindness that way I 'le willingly assist you that if any Commotion happen which I think will not you may be in the greater readiness whatever fall out And seeing we are not far distant one from another I 'le take it kindly if you 'll hereafter write to me of what you hear I shall do the same and not fail to acquaint you with what I think concerns the Publick nor be wanting in giving that necessary protection and defence to all that expect and deserve it Some days before Montfort was come back to Trent and therefore the Ambassadours of Wirtemberg went to wait upon him and tell him That hitherto they had obtained nothing by the help of the Cardinal nor of Don Francisco de Toledo and that since he and his Collegues represented the Emperour there they desired that their Princes demands might be heard But receiving no satisfactory answer then neither they began to despair of success and to think of returning home as the Prince had lately enjoyned them if they found they were put off with longer delays The Deputy of Strasburg gave Count Montfort also an account of the business he came about as he had done before to Poictieres and he likewise took a Copy of his Commission Now were the Disputations of the Divines over and the Fathers met daily that having examined all their Opinions they might frame the Decrees as we told you before Three of the German Nation were chosen for that purpose the Bishops of Cologne Vienna and Julius Pflug Bishop of Naumburg Whil'st these were taken up about that affair and prepared all things for the future Session at length January the Seventh came the Ambassadours of Duke Maurice of whom the Emperour had written a little before and these were Wolf Coler and Leonard Badehorn a Lawyer Their coming cheared up the Bishops whom I named before and chiefly the Emperours Ambassadours who thought that Duke Maurice being peaceably inclined was now no more to be suspected The third day after they came they acquainted the Emperours Ambassadours with their Instructions and at first alledged that the safe Conduct granted by the Council was not sufficient security for the Divines to come and that it was the cause why the Princes had sent none that he himself was very well affected towards the Publick and earnestly desired that some way of Concord might be found that therefore he was fully resolved to send some good and peceable Men and doubted not but most of the rest would do the same but that it might be so his demands were first That those who were to come might have a safe Conduct in the form of that of the Council of Basil which was heretofore given to the Bohemians That when they should come all that had been done before might be reviewed and debated again of new and the day of the ensuing Session prorogued That there should be a Council wherein all Nations and People might meet That the Pope should not take to himself the Authority of President but submit to the Council and absolve all the Bishops from their Oaths of Canonical Obedience that so all the Votes in Council might be free and no constraint laid upon Mens Judgements That they would propose these things more at large in the Congregation of the Fathers when it should be thought fit and move that something might be done therein with all expedition That now the Divines were about forty Miles forward on their Journy and waited only till they should be sent for That was done on the Tenth day of January They made answer That they were very glad of their coming and that they would make a Report of all they had said to the Council They informed the Emperour also of the whole matter who to soften Duke Maurice advised and counselled the Fathers to return a mild and friendly answer to his Demands The Duke of Wirtemberg also hearing that Duke Maurice had sent thither ordered his Ambassadours to stay till the next Session and there exhibit their Writing At the same time the sent another short Paper much to the same purpose that the Demands of Duke Maurice were as will appear hereafter and that he would have also produced with the confession of Faith and Doctrine The Deputy of Strasburg had orders to stay either till the Mauritians came or that it were certainly know they would not come When they were come therefore he communicated to them the cause of his Deputation told them how Affairs stood and learned of them what Instructions they had Those of Wirtemberg did the same and so all joyned in the common cause which they as coming latest did chiefly prosecute and therefore made earnest suit to the three Electoral Archbishops the Cardinal of Trent who was Duke Maurice's familiar Friend and the Emperour's Ambassadors that for the sake of the Publick they would both be favourable to them themselves and persuade the rest of the Fathers also to be so For none of the Ambassadours went to the Legate Crescentio or his Collegues lest they should seem to own their Authority but because in obedience to the Emperour and to comply with the Imperial Decree they had been sent to the Council therefore they applied themselves in all Matters to his Ambassadors who was the chief and supream Magistrate And at the same time News was also brought that Duke Maurice would in a few days be with the Emperour which raised the hopes and expectations of all Men. The King of England's Uncle whom we named before was in this Month beheaded at London and some of his familiar Friends suffered with him No Man doubted but that this was done by the influence of the Duke of Northumberland and wiser Men began now to be concerned for the good King whom they saw more exposed to Danger and Treasons now his nearest Relations were taken out of the way for after the death of the Duke of Somerset Northumberland brought in new Bedchamber-men about the King and amongst these his own Sons and Relations The day of the next Session of the Council now approaching the Emperour's Ambassadors sent for those of Duke Maurice and told them what they had done with the Fathers in their Affair that they had obtained a safe Conduct such as they desired that all farther Action also should rest and be put off until they came and might be present that it was not in the power of the Fathers that all Nations and People should meet there that the Council was lawfully called and though all did not come it nevertheless retained its Authority and Dignity that they themselves might consider how undecent a thing it would be to handle the Decrees already made over again for that it would redound to the
enrich himself that for some years past he had served the Emperor and King Ferdinand in their Wars to the great prejudice of his Estate without any other prospect or design but the purchasing of Honour and Reputation by his Services that fair and ample conditions had been several times offered him also but he had rejected them that he might espouse this War for the Liberty and ancient Dignity of his Country That if perhaps in this War the overgrown Power and Authority of the Clergy which is prohibited in holy Scripture should chance to be weakened and impaired he was not to be blamed for that since to say the Truth the chief Bishops of the Empire had been the cause of all these Evils that it was not his design though that those religious Houses which were founded chiefly for the use of the Nobility and Gentry should be destroyed but that the vices being rooted out and those things reformed which could not be suffered they might continue in their own station nay and flourish too and that he would assist them therein provided they were willing and did not suffer themselves to be perswaded by his Adversaries to the contrary The French King also made publick Declaration that it had been his chief design Religion being once setled that he might do good to the publick but especially to his Friends That therefore immediately after the death of his Father he had restored Scotland to its ancient dignity renewed the league with the Switzers recovered Boloigne brought back the People that had been dispersed up and down into their own Lands and Possessions again and made a Peace and strict Friendship with the King of England But that whilst he was intent upon these things the Emperour by close and clandestine Counsels had contrived many things to his ruin and oftener than once given him a cause of War but that to give some ease and refreshment to the publick and to his own People also in private he had been still and winking at these injuries had wholly applied himself to the settling of his Kingdom that this his quietness had been by his Adversaries interpreted Cowardise and Faint-heartedness afterwards but that in the mean time sad and grievous Complaints had been brought to him from many of the Princes and States of Germany who said that under the specious Pretexts partly of Religion partly of a Turkish War and punishing of Rebellion designs had been carried on to bring them into Bondage and that through cunning and crafty counsels Factions and Divisions were fomented and Germany totally exhausted so that it was no longer to be doubted but that he aimed at an universal Monarchy for himself and the house of Austria that that truly had been a great grief to him not only because of the common origine of both Nations but also of the ancient alliance and friendship which had always remained firm and unviolate so long as the craft and subtlety of the Emperor had given it leave for that if the Government should be changed and Germany lose its liberty he well understood how dangerous and prejudicial that would be unto him that Germany was indeed the Bulwark not only of France but of all Christendom also and that therefore he had many times heartily wished and prayed that both People might have united their strength and put themselves into such a condition as not to need to fear any danger but that since there appeared no hopes of that and that in the mean time many craved his assistance but on different accounts he could see no way how he could succour the Empire so much rent and torn Nevertheless that in this so weighty a deliberation God the just Judge of all had offered him a very fit occasion for that Octavio Farnese Duke of Piacenza and Parma for whom the Emperor and Pope Julius laid Snares had implored help from him and by laying open before him all the injuries received had perswaded him to undertake the Protection of him and the Prince of Mirandula that afterwards came those complaints from the Princes of Germany who desired to enter into league with him as being the only way in their opinion to restore the State that he would not mention those weighty and just causes that the Princes had to take up Arms since they might be understood from their own declarations but yet that any Man might consider with himself whether this insatiable ambition of their Adversaries was not a just ground of grief who having ruined the Wealth of Germany swept all into their own Coffers and Treasury Were not the provinces of Utricht Liege and Cambray sufficient instances thereof And what was also Constance and many other free Cities oppressed That the Burgundians now hovering over the People of Treves Cleve and Wirtemberg had left the Prints of their footsteeps upon their Borders and many ways made havock of the Landgraves Territories that in like manner and for the same purpose the Emperor excluded his Ambassadors from the Diets of the Empire prohibited by publick Edict the Germans from serving foreign Princes in their Wars cut off brave and valiant Soldiers and amongst those Vogelsperg whom he himself to glut his revenge saw executed at Ausburg Was it not a thing of bad example that he should encourage and hire Men to kill those who served in his Wars That it was not certainly to be expressed what Arts their Enemies used for such were by them thrust in and admitted into the Judicature of the Imperial Chamber and Diet of the Empire as might make it their whole business to bring about and accomplish whatever they pleased and that indeed the blame of all the Evils that had happened was to be imputed to those kind of Men but especially the Judges of the Imperial Chamber That for these reasons he could not refuse his assistance to the Germans who desired it that therefore he had made a League with them and not only done so but was resolved also to employ all his force nay his very Person in that war that he did not neither look for any private profit or advantage thereby but that it was only his intent that by asserting the Liberty of Germany delivering John Frederick Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave whom he had detained in a tedious and base Captivity he might purchase to himself Praise and immortal Glory as Flaminius had heretofore done in delivering Greece from bondage nor needed any Man to fear Violence for that since he had undertaken that War for the sake of Liberty he would take care that no Man who did not deserve it should receive any hurt that therefore they might believe the Promise which he faithfully made to them and not give credit to their Adversaries who gave it out that it was his design to afflict and plague the Clergy that he was so far from entertaining such thoughts that he took them all under his protection and defence provided they gave him
the Confederate Princes should make Peace with the Emperor For that it was the Interest not only of one Nation but of all Europe also that it should be so since the civil Broils that disturbed the same threatned no less than its ruin That they made no doubt but the Conditions which the King desired would be obtained For that the Emperor as before so now in these intestine Commotions was well affected towards the Publick and would not have the Liberty of Germany depressed That there was great hopes also that he would shortly set the Princes at Liberty But that as to the renewing of ancient Leagues and confirming new ones the King in his own Prudence knew very well that a matter of so great moment could not be transacted in that Assembly That nevertheless they wished the Friendship and Correspondence that had always been betwixt both People might remain firm and inviolable That it was not only their chief Desire that such private Controversies as he had with the Emperor might be adjusted but that they would also use their utmost Endeavours to accomplish it That nevertheless since the King had hinted that the Emperor detained some things that were his and that he had somewhat to re-demand from him it seemed not unreasonable to them that he would declare what his Pretensions were For that they were resolved to state the Controversie to the Emperor and interpose as Mediators and that they earnesty prayed the King to take these things in good part Now as to the Relation that is betwixt the French and Germans we discoursed in the eighth Book But as to what the French Ambassador spoke of the Family of Luxembourg the matter in short is this Henry Count of Luxembourg had a Son Henry who was afterwards Emperor and the seventh of that Name He again had a Son who by Marriage became King of Bohemia and this Prince aided Philip of Valois in his Wars against Edward the third King of England and being present in a Battel wherein the English got the Victory he was slain there leaving amongst others an eldest Son who was afterward the Emperor Charles IV. the Father of Wenceslaus and Sigismund who were both afterwards Emperors and Sigismund also King of Hungary and Bohemia he who procured the calling of the Council of Constance Albert of Austria of whom he spoke the Son of the Emperor Rodolph when he became Emperor entertained a firm Amity with Philip the Fair King of France though Pope Boniface VIII had eagerly incited him to War. Besides the delivery of the Landgrave Duke Maurice insisted chiefly on two things First that as to those things which wounded the liberty of Germany and had been reckoned up by him King Ferdinand his Son Maximilian and the Mediators would themselves forthwith determine and pronounce Sentence concerning them according to the Laws and ancient Custom of Germany And then that Religion should be let alone in Peace and no Man molested upon that account till all the difference should be fully agreed The Mediators did not disapprove this Course But the Emperor's Ambassadors in his Name interposed and said that their Master thought it but reasonable that they who for their Fidelity to him had incurred Calamities and sustained great Losses should have reparation made them When some Points after much debate had been moderated they came to this Resolution at length that the Emperor should by the third of July give his positive Answer and that in the mean time there should be a cessation of Arms wherefore on the sixteenth of June the Mediators wrote to the Emperor and exhorted him to Peace We told you that after the taking of Erenberg and the plundering of Inspruck the Confederate Princes took another way through the Alpes and about the latter end of May returned to Fiessen Marching from thence they came on the nineteenth of June with all their Forces and Encamped at Aichstadt and Episcopal City upon the Frontiers of Bavaria where they expected the coming of Duke Maurice with great Desire being in some Anxiety for his Absence At length he came and gave them a full account how Affairs stood but on the last day of June took Post back again to Passaw upon Horses purposely laid on the Road that he might be present by the day appointed and the day following the Confederate Princes decamped and after four days March came to Rottenburg a Town on the Danube bordering upon Franconia Notwithstanding all this Marquess Albert still pursued his Point and having brought Norimberg to accept of Peace compelled the Nobility and States in those Places to submit to his Orders For though he acted in the common Cause at first as he promised in his publick Declaration he would yet he was not joyned in that Confederacy and after the siege of Ulm was raised he began in a manner to act separately either because he would take all to himself that the Fortune of War gave him or that he disapproved what Duke Maurice had done or else that being put on by the French King he entertained other Designs but yet he made those who had given Oath to be true to him to swear the same also to the Confederates His next Expedition was into the Territories of the Archbishop of Mentz where along the River of Mayne he did very much damage by Fire and Pillage and demanded a vast sum of Money of him but when Agents being employed to treat could not agree about the Sum the Elector having first sunk his great Guns in the Rhine July the fifth fled for his safety At the same time Marquess Albert who left nothing unattempted demanded of the Archbishop of Treves that he would put into his Hands the chief Castle of his Territories it stands where the Rivers of Rhine and Mosell do meet upon a very high Hill both strong by Nature and very commodiously scituated This demand he made as he said in name of the French King. But the Elector having advised with his Friends made Answer that he could not comply with his Demands Because in the latter part of the Answer which the Princes Mediators made to the French Ambassador as we mentioned before they had said that it seemed reasonable to them that the King would declare what Pretensions he had and what he demanded of the Emperor The Ambassador having received Instructions from the King wrote to them from the Camp at Aichstadt June the nine and twentieth That the King had undertaken that War for no other Cause but meerly for the publick Good and especially that he might retrieve the liberty of oppressed Germany having been thereto much sollicited by some Princes of the Empire That he had not at all proposed to himself any private advantage therein as the thing it self might bear him witness For that he had not possessed himself of any thing in Germany which he could easily have done That he had also given his Confederates
do further declare to you and yours that you ought to be resposable for all the Calamities which shall ensue in this War you having refused to submit to any just and equal Conditions of Peace And we do not doubt but that Almighty God will rather assist us who seek nothing but the Preservation of our Country than you who have committed great Injuries in and began an unjust War against it When this Declaration was delivered to Albert the Ambassadors of the Elector of Brandenburg were in his Camp who were come to perswade him to a Peace And he having read it called his Commanders together and asked them if they would try their Fortunes with him which they promised him they would and thereupon he called the young Gentleman who brought him the Letter and speaking to him said Your Prince has already thrice broke his Faith with me and done ill by me and this is his fourth Action of the same Nature Let him come and I will try what he can do and this tell him from me And thereupon having according to the Custom given him some Crowns he sent him away Whereupon the Ambassadors who were come to Mediate a Peace addressed themselves to him and said What then Sir shall we do nothing No said he you may go Home But having a little more closely reflected on the Consequences of the War the third of July he sent Erick of Brunswick to the Emperor to inform him That by the Cunning of some Men many Enemies were stirred up against him to the End that not only the Pacts that had been made with him might not be performed but also that he might be driven out of his Country and deprived of his Possessions that there was no doubt but if Fortune favoured their Designs they would soon declare for the French Interest For in truth France had invited them with the Proffer of great Advantages to enter into a new Conspiracy as he could prove And that some of the Electors and great Princes had already conspired to set up a new Emperor That the Imperial Chamber was the only Promoter of the Designs of the two Bishops against him and therefore he desired the Emperor his Majesty would not take it ill that he had been compelled to make use of Force against them He further insisted That his Enemies in order to excite the publick Envy against him had spread abroad a Report as if he had Combined with the Emperor to oppress the Liberty of Germany and that some of the Princes had objected this to him and he said there were Letters to the same purpose spread about Germany which were pretended to be written from Arras that he Levied Forces to assist the Emperor in this Design For that the Emperor intended to send his Son the Prince of Spain and the Duke De Alva to the next Diet that he might there be declared Successor of the Empire That King Ferdinand was so fully perswaded of the Truth of this that he had entred into a League with his Enemies and has saith he declared a War against me he said he had excused this very carefully and to many but yet the suspition got strength every Day and that in truth all the Dangers and Difficulties to which he was exposed arose from no other cause than his adhering to the Emperor Therefore he did most humbly supplicate his Majesty to confirm his Treaty with the Bishops and to undertake the Protection of him and his in Consideration of which he promised he would bring nine Thousand Horse and one Hundred Foot Companies into the Emperors Service when-ever his Majesty should require them In the mean time the Forces of the City of Norimberg and the two Bishops in the Absence of Albert invaded his Territories Whereupon he put out a Declaration against the City of Norimberg accusing them of breaking their Faith and Promises to him and insinuating that by joyning in a League with those two Perfidious Bishops as he called them they seem'd well disposed to re-imbrace the Roman-Catholick Religion They on the other side Printed and Published an Answer soon after relating all things in the order they had happened and beginning with the Actions of the former Year they shew how cruel a War he had begun what Pacts they had made with him how with the Consent of the Emperor they had entred into a League with their Neighbour Bishops How Albert had rejected the most equal Terms the Bishops had offered to him and had nevertheless begun a War upon them how he had lately again Invaded the Territories belonging to this City only because pursuant to their League and in obedience to the Commands of the Imperial Chamber they had sent Succours to their Allies Amongst other ill things which they charged him with they mention this as an Instance of Cruelty which had never been practised by any Man before him That when he had made himself Master of Altorfe and Lawffe two Towns in their Territories he shut up in them not only the Inhabitants of these Towns but a great number of Men which he had brought together out of the Neighbouring Country together with their Cattel and then had Fired the said Towns in many places at the same time and especially at the Gates designing apparently to burn all these People with the Towns and that in this Fire many Women and Children and Aged and Sick Persons who could not make their way either through or over the City Walls were miserably burnt to Death And as to what he alledged concerning their changing their Religion they shew that Pretence was vain for that the League was only entred to the Intent to preserve themselves and theirs from unjust Force And as for Albert they said it was well known how little he regarded any Religion as they could shew by many Instances which they would certainly have inserted here but out of Reverence to the noble House of which he was descended and some other Princes that were his near Relations they would forbear doing it The fifth day of July Sigismond King of Poland Married Catherine one of the Daughters of Ferdinand King of the Romans which Lady had before been the Wife of the Duke of Mantoua Sigismond had before this in the Year 1535 Married Elizabeth another of the Daughters of Ferdinand and Sister of Catherine as I have related above in the fifteenth Book of this History Edward the sixth King of England a Prince of great and unquestioned Vertue and Hope died the sixth day of July as was commonly given out of a Consumption being about sixteen years of Age to the great Grief of all Pious Men. There followed in England after his Death great Changes as I shall relate hereafter There was soon after a report spread abroad that he was Poysoned However it is certain Europe has not in many Ages produced a Prince of so great Expectation From his Infancy he was well instructed in Religion and
Emperor could not make use of Albert's Service witout increasing the suspition which was then in Germany That this would be a very great affliction to him who desired nothing more than the Peace and Tranquillity of the Empire In the beginning of August Augustus the Brother of Maurice returned out of Denmark a few days after having consulted with his Council he caused his Subjects and amongst them those of Wirtemberg to take an Oath of Allegiance to himself and his Heirs-Male and that if he had no Male-Issue that then they should return under the Subjection of John Frederick and his Sons if he were obedient to the Emperor and observ'd the Treaties made some years since but if he did otherwise then they were to admit the Landgrave This being thus done he was proclaimed Electoral Prince and summoned a Diet of his States to meet the Twentieth of August The Seventeenth Day of August there was a very great Earthquake at Meissen in Misnia At the Day appointed the States assembled and a numerous Diet was opened at Leypsick Augustus proposed to their consideration in the first place Whether they would enter into his late Brother's League with King Ferdinand the Princes and Bishops and prosecute the War against Albert. Secondly What should be done in order to a Peace with John Frederick the late Elector because in the absence of Augustus that Prince had sent Ambassadors to the Great Men and demanded to be restored to the Electoral Dignity and to his Possessions which had been taken from him by the Emperor and conferred upon Maurice After Deliberation the States gave Answer That they were of Opinion that he should make a Peace with both Parties and that Albert the Elector of Brandenburg should be induced to enter into a Treaty of Peace and to that purpose there passed an Act of State though Ferdinand King of Bohemia very diligently sollicited them by Henry Plaw his Chancellor to continue in the late League To this Convention John Frederick sent another Ambassy and demanded to be restored to his Inheritance with some sharpness of Words and it was seconded also by those which were his Subjects in this Assembly but it had no effect Augustus pretending that he was not obliged to a Restitution and adhering to the Articles and Agreements made by John Frederick with the Emperor when he was taken Prisoner yet he said he would consent to a Continuance of the Claim and not reject all Treaty thereupon During this Convention of the States Henry Duke of Brunswick desired the Aid of Augustus Duke of Saxony against Albert who was then levying new Forces So soon as ever John Frederick heard of the Death of Maurice he sent John William one of his Sons to the Emperor into the Low Countries to sollicite his Restitution and almost at the same time the Nobility and States in the absence of Augustus sent Ambassadors to recommend him to the Emperor John Frederick at the same time also sent Ambassadors to Ferdinand and to the King of Denmark about the same Affair In the mean time the Bishop of Wurtzburg besieged Schweinfurt which had been Garrison'd by Albert as I have said above and the Forces of the Bishop of Bamberg and of the City of Norimberg when they had sometime besieged Collebach levied the Siege and joyned with the Count of Plaw who then lay before Hosie a Town belonging to the Elector of Brandenburg In this Month Nine Persons were condemned to be burnt at Lyons some of them having been imprison'd above a year There were Questions proposed to them one by one concerning the Presence of Christ's Body in the Eucharist Purgatory the Mass Auricular Confession the Ceremonies of the Church Invocation of the Virgin Mary and the Saints the Primacy of the Pope of Rome Free-Will Justification by Works concerning the Church the Power of the Bishops the Monastick Vows the Choice of Meats Extream Unction Confirmation and Images They all of them severally made the same Answers to every one of these Questions with great constancy alledging for what they said the Testimony of the Scriptures Whilst they were yet in Prison they comforted one another by their Letters and they sent others to their Friends and to the Neighbour-Churches wherein they gave an Account of what had happened One of these Prisoners Lewis Marsac a Souldier reciting several Passages out of the Sacred Scriptures the Inquisitors who examin'd him asked him if it were fit for him to read the Scriptures and how he knew these things were in the Gospels The King's Lieutenant also said there were only two Evangelists Matthew and John the other two and Paul pick'd up a few Scraps or ends of the Story and patch'd them together He said also That if the Doctors of the Church had not given Authority to the Writings of St. Paul he should not have regarded his Epistles more than he did Aesop's Fables When on the other side Marsac replied That there were very excellent Testimonies in the Scriptures concerning the Vocation and Apostleship of St. Paul especially in the 1st Chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians He replied That is nothing to the purpose for he bears witness to himself The Executioner had order to put an halter about the Neck of each of the Prisoners when they were carried to Execution but Marsac having served the Crown as a Souldier the Judges had ordered he should be led without that Mark of Disgrace But Marsac turning to the principal Judge said Is their Cause better than mine I Pray Sir why do you not bestow the same Chain upon me Why should not I too be admitted into the Fellowship of this Noble and Illustrious Order of Knights Alluding to the Custom used by Princes who to honour and exalt their particular Friends admit them into their Order as they call it and give them a Chain or Collar of Gold as an honourable Badge of it Five of these who were Frenchmen had been Students in the University of Lausanne where they had been maintained by the Canton of Bern in which that City stands and when they heard these Students were taken up and in great danger the Canton sent a Memorial to the King and desired these Students might be returned to them But the King disappointed them in this pretending that by Law he could not do so It is thought the Cardinal of Tournon blew the Coles in this Affair We have already spoken of the Death of that Illustrious Prince Edward the Sixth King of England He had before been consumptive and in the beginning of January he fell sick His Disease increasing he became very sollicitous for his Kingdom and the State of Religion and began to consult his more intimate Friends Who was the fittest Person to suceed him For though his Father had by his last Testament made Mary and Elizabeth his two Sisters his Heirs as we have above related yet because now he was come to somewhat a more advanced Age
he thought it belonged to him to appoint his Successor and the rather because there was a general and common Dispute concerning their Legitimacy and Mary did also profess the Roman Catholick Religion and if she should succeed he had reason to fear the Religion which was then established would be subverted and the Nation be endangered to be brought under the Dominion of a Foreigner He resolved therefore after great deliberation to chuse Jane Duchess of Suffolk Grand-child to Mary the younder Sister of Henry the 8th for his Successor This Resolution being approved by his Council and Nobility and the Mayor of London the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England was sent for to Court to sign it But he refused to do it till he had spoken with the King being accordingly admitted into the King's Chamber and having with great freedom discoursed this Business with him at last he consented upon the King 's extream importunity The King died as I have said the 6th of July and the fourth Day after Jane was proclaimed Queen of England and the Instrument was read at the same time reciting how King Edward for great and weighty Causes had with the Consent of his Peers disinherited Mary and Elizabeth his Sisters and transmitted the Succession of the Kingdom to Jane his Cousin The Nobility and People of England were much displeased with this not so much out of affection to the Princess Mary as out of hatred to the Duke of Northumberland there being very few or none who did not look upon him as the Author of this Project that he might bring the Crown into his own Family Whilst these things were thus in agitation the Princess Mary fled to the Castle of Framingham in Suffolk and assuming the Authority of a Queen implored the assistance of her Subjects This being known at London Northumberland levied Forces and with the consent of the Council marched out of the City with an Army to take the Queen But in the Interim that part of the Council which continued in London seeing the dissatisfaction of the People and that great Forces came in to the Assistance of the Queen in Suffolk they thereupon changed their Minds and proclaimed Mary Queen and detained Jane a Prisoner in the Tower. Assoon as the News of this change came to the Camp the Army which neither willingly embraced the Cause nor loved the General revolted also and upon the Receipt of a Letter to that purpose seized the Duke of Northumberland at Cambridge and brought him the 25th day of July a Prisoner into London It is incredible with what Reproaches the People entertain'd him Some call'd him Traytor others Parricide and other the Murtherer of a most innocent Prince For his attempting to set his Daughter-in-Law upon the Throne had caused a mighty Jealousie that he had a long time been forming this Project and in conclusion had hasted the King's Death Afterwards his Children and his Brother were taken into Custody and some other Noblemen and Sir John Cheek the King's Tutor a Person of great Learning and Virtue but this last was soon after dismissed when they had stripp'd him of almost all he had The Third of August Queen Mary entred London and going to the Tower she immediately released the Duke of Norfolk who had been almost seven years a Prisoner there Tonstal Bishop of Durbam and some others who being of the Roman Catholick Religion had been removed from their Sees whom she also restored to their Places again And as for Gardiner Bishop of Winchester though he had in a Printed Book defended the Divorce made by Henry the Eighth of Catherine the Mother of Queen Mary as I have set forth in the Ninth Book of this History yet she notwithstanding made him Lord Chancellor of England which is an Office of the greatest Dignity and Power in that Kingdom When Queen Catherine urged in her Defence the Bull of Pope Julius the Second in Approbation of her Marriage the King on the other side said it was invalid and sent Gardiner who was not then advanced to the Dignity of a Bishop to Pope Clement to procure that Bull to be by him declared void He coming to Rome in February in the Year 1529. earnestly pressed his Errand on the Pope Clement according to the Proverb had then got a Wolf by the Ears and though he was very desirous to please the King yet fearing to offend the Emperor he only said he would write to the Emperor to produce the true Bull. Gardiner consented to this but desired it might be done in two Months and when that time was elapsed that if the Bull were not then produced it might be declared false The Pope thought this way of Proceeding was contrary to the Custom and unjust and endeavoured to appease and quiet the King by good words But Gardiner said on the other side that if what the King desired were not done it would bring great Mischief on the See of Rome The Emperor and Ferdinand his Brother the 27th of April by their Ambassadors express'd their discontent at this and expostulated with the Pope as too too much inclin'd to favour the King and for that he had permitted the Case to be heard in England and at the same time they appointed Proctors to prosecute the Suit in their Names at Rome with large Commissions and Instruction Thereupon the Pope commanded Cardinal Campeio to return back to Rome to which he was induced by a Letter which he had received from Wolsely Archbishop of York wherein he had given the Pope an Account of a new Love the King had entertained as I have set forth in the said Eleventh Book The Twenty second Day of August the Duke of Northumberland having before been tried and found guilty of High Treason and received Sentence of Death was brought upon a Scaffold on Tower-Hill where he made a Speech to the People and amongst other things exhorted them That they should continue stedfast in that Religion which they had received from their Ancestors affirming that he thought all the Calamities which had befallen the English especially since the Death of Henry the 8th proceeded from nothing but their having separated themselves from the rest of Christendom He had for some years before pretended to be of a contrary Opinion and had openly renounced the Roman Catholick Religion and it was said he had been prevailed upon to discourse thus upon Promises of a Pardon And although he ended his Speech with a Protestation that what he had said came from his heart yet some thought he repented it when he had look'd about him and saw there was no refuge to be expected and that he had been impos'd upon by flattering Promises Sir Thomas Palmer Knight who was beheaded at the same time professed the Protestant Religion with great constancy Northumberland was as I have said convicted of Treason and Rebellion and altho there were great Suspicions that he had poyson'd the late
King yet this at his Trial was never or very little at most urged against him and in the Sentence or Judgment pronounced against him it was never mentioned We have said above how Peter Martyr the Florentine about six years since was sent for into England by the late King Edward and upon his Arrival made Professor of Divinity at Oxford He was much honoured and esteemed both for his signal Virtue and Learning but then there were others who did no less envy and hate him Upon the Death of the King he was commanded not to depart or carry away what he had without the leave of the Magistrates and severely threatned if he did any thing to the contrary he readily obeyed this Order at first but when he perceived Delays were made use of he wrote to the Council and acquainted them with the Condition he was in and desired that if any thing were laid to his Charge he and his Accusers might be heard face to face before the Council When by this means he had obtain'd their leave to be gone he went to London There he found the Archbishop of Canterbury his good Patron and Friend who by the Preachers was at the instigation of the Roman Catholick Bishops represented as one that was unsteady that the Mass was restored at Canterbury by his Order that he himself was to say Mass at the King's Funeral and that he had promised the Queen he would do so And at the same time there was a great noise of a Disputation that was soon after to be So soon as the Archbishop heard this he put out a Paper to vindicate himself wherein he confesseth That a certain Priest without his knowledge or consent had said Mass at Canterbury The other Report concerning the King's Funeral he denied adding that if the Queen would grant him her Leave he would prove that the Communion-Service and the Articles of Religion set out and established by King Edward concerning the Lord's Supper and several other things were consonant and agreeable to the Holy Scriptures but on the contrary the Papal Mass was contrary to the Institution of Christ To the proof of which Assertion he did not need the Aid and Assistance of many but only desired that Peter Martyr and a few others might be permitted to be his Companions and Seconds in this Affair And whereas they of the Church of Rome made great Boasts of the Antiquity of their Religion and pretended it had stood above Fifteen Hundred years he said they could never prove this but he undertook to shew that the Religion which was setled here under Edward the Sixth and which was yet the established Religion of England was the genuine and truly ancient Religion which was delivered to us by Christ and his Apostles This Manifesto being by him made publick at London about the Fifth Day of September Peter Martyr came about the same time from Oxford to him and being by the Archbishop acquainted with this Paper he commended it and said he would not decline any labour or danger that could befal him in the defence of it Whilst they were expecting a Disputation the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishop of London Worcester and some others were for their Religion and for some Sermons they were said to have Preached against the Queen by the Order of the Council before she was proclaimed Queen sent to the Tower the Fourteenth of September Hugh Latimer was also taken up whom King Edward had delivered out of Prison his Father having confined him on the account of his Doctrine In the mean time though Peter Martyr saw clearly the danger he was in yet having done nothing contrary to the Laws of England he relied upon his Innocence and would not depart without a Passport or publick Dismission When therefore he had obtained this Signed by the Queens own Hand he arrived first at Antwerp and from thence went to Cologne and so to Strasburg from which place he went when he was sent for into England and here he found Bernard Ochin who was come thither not long before him It was reported in Germany that the Emperor had advised Queen Mary his Cousin that she should govern her People with great Clemency and not change the Religion she found setled nor marry a Stranger he himself having learn'd by sad experience the great dangers which attended a Change in Religion Whether this were so or not I cannot affirm but the Event seems to prove the contrary for she having commanded all the Protestants which were Foreigners to depart the Kingdom and imprisoned many of the Natives quickly resetled the Roman Catholick Religion as I shall shew hereafter the first of October the Queen was Crowned and the Tenth of the same Month a Parliament began The Emperor had summoned a Diet to meet the Thirteenth of August as I have said in the beginning of this Book which was first Prorogued to the First of October and afterwards to the Month of January After the Battel in which Maurice of Saxony was slain Henry Duke of Brunswick and Albert Marquess of Brandenburg began each of them to recollect their scattered Forces and to levy more the Bishops and Norimbergers supplied Henry with Money for that purpose But then all men wondred from whence Albert had these Nerves of War And there was a Report that Mary the Emperor's Sister furnished him with Treasures which was again denied by the Imperialists and they pretended too to wonder that men should be so silly to think so But the Moneys coming in somewhat slowly to Henry and this being known to Albert he reduced him to great danger by solliciting his Souldiers to a defection who bore the delay of their Pay with great impatience but the Tenth day of September in the very moment of time when the Soldiery was in their Ferment and just entring into a Mutiny the Remedy came and all that Tempest was quieted And Henry for the better supporting his Interest made a Peace with Erick his Kinsman who had till then served under Albert against him The King of Denmark some time before this had sent Ambassadors into Saxony to promote the Interests of Augustus his Son-in-Law and they being assisted by the Ambassadors of the Elector of Brandenburg made a Reconciliation between Albert and Augustus The Conditions were That Augustus should not prosecute the War begun by his late Brother nor send Succors to the Enemies of Albert And Albert promised the same for his part and that if the necessity of the War enforced him to march his Forces near the Territories of Augustus he would do him no dammage Augustus was to take great care that none of his Souldiers when they were disbanded should enter the Service of Albert's Enemies and lastly That the ancient League between the Houses of Saxony and Brandenburg should be renewed assoon as could be The next Day which was the Twelfth of September Albert marched his
Emperor's Lieutenant was marching towards them with his Forces and that it would be very difficult to defend it they Plundered the Place and in good time marched away laden with the Spoils of it Not long after this an account was given from Venice and other places that Solyman Emperor of the Turks had caused Mustapha his eldest Son to be Strangled upon a suspition of Treason and Disloyalty towards him The report was very strong that a second Wife of Solyman's had put him upon this Murther in order to the advancement of her own Son which she desired might succeed his Father in the Empire I have already given an account of the Commitment of the Archbishop of Canterbury he and the Lady Jane with three Sons of the Duke of Northumberland were brought to Tryal in the Month of November for Rebellion and Treason and found Guilty But according to the custom of that Kingdom they were remanded to Prison and upon the Intercession of some on their behalf they were reprieved Sebastian Schertilingen whom I have often mentioned upon whose Head and Life the Emperor had set a Price as I have said in my twenty fourth Book was about this time reconciled to the Emperor and Ferdinand his Brother and recovered his Estate again At the Sollicitation of the Bishops and their Confederates the Judges of the Imperial Chamber in the usual form Proscribed Albert of Brandenburg the first of December as a disturber of the publick Peace and of the Empire and sending their Letters to all Parts to be publickly affixed exposed his Life and Fortunes to the will of any Man that would make a Prey of them In the Interim Henry Duke of Brunswick having left Count Plaw to carry on the Siege of Blasseburg he marched the sixth of December with his Forces to Schweinfurt which is a City of Franconia seated upon the Mayn which Albert then held with a strong Garrison The Forerunners of Henry's Army was a reinforcement of Soldiers sent from Norimberg and Forcheim But Albert foreseeing this Siege had before-hand carried into the City whatever Victuals could be found in the Neighbourhood and then had burnt down all Houses near it that he might make it impossible to carry on a Siege against it in that dead time of the Year So not being able to effect any thing and having also lost some of his Men in a Sally which Albert made out of the City this General was soon forced to retire and marching with a small Retinue he passed through the Territories of John Frederick Duke of Saxony without doing him any Dammage in his return Home When Albert heard that he was Proscribed he appealed to the Emperor and beseeched him to reverse the Sentence But the Emperor said he ought not to hinder the Execution or Administration of Justice Whereupon Albert refused to submit to their Judgment pretending it was obtained by Purchase and Bribery and soon after published a Protestation or Remonstrance against it The Chamber in the mean time commanded the neighbouring Provinces of the Empire to put this Decree in Execution The tenth of October a Parliament was begun in England which sate till the sixth of December and then was dissolved in which all the Laws of Edward the sixth concerning the Lord's Supper the Ceremonies of the Church and the Administration of the Sacraments the Marriage of the Clergy the Election of Bishops the Ordination of Ministers and the publick Liturgy and all other things of that Nature were repeal'd and all things pertaining to Religion were reduced to the same State they were left in when King Henry the eighth died That no disturbance should be given to those Priests and Ministers of the Church which should hereafter be Licensed the Divorce of Catherine the Mother of Queen Mary was declared Illegal There was also a Proposition of the Marriage of the Queen to Prince Philip the eldest Son of the Emperor made to the Lords of the upper House for the obtaining their Approbation There had before been a Fame spread that he was to Marry his Cousin-German the Daughter of Emmanuel King of Portugal and of Elenora his Queen This Marriage with Queen Mary of England being at last agreed after the rising of the Parliament which opposed it the Emperor sent for Cardinal Pool to him out of Germany where till then he he had detained him as I said before This Procedure caused a Report That Pool being descended of the Royal Family and much esteemed by the English Nation It was suspected he might have possibly put some stop to this Marriage There were also other Bishops ordained in the Sees of those whom I have mentioned to be Imprisoned about this time The Emperor also sent a very splendid Embassie into England for the Solemnization of the Marriage between Prince Philip who was absent and Queen Mary the principal Person in which was Count Egmondt They arriving in London in the beginning of January after a Treaty of some few days Continuance concluded this Affair The People were much enraged against this Match and some of the Nobility having Communicated their Counsels to each other broke out into a Rebellion the Principal Leader in which was one Sir Thomas Wiat he raising an Insurrection in Kent caused grievous and sharp Sermons to be Preached against the Queen and her Council as designing by this forreign Match to involve England in a perpetual and most wretched Slavery and also that she had extinguished the true Religion and restored the Roman-Catholick again Kent is one of the most Eastern Counties of England ennobled by the City of Canterbury and lying upon the Streights of Calais over against France The report of this Commotion coming to London the twenty fifth day of January there came soon after News that Henry Duke of Suffolk was raising Men in Devonshire whereupon the Queen levied what Forces she could get together and made Thomas Duke of Norfolk whom she had lately discharged out of the Tower her General who marching towards Rochester Bridge was deserted by his Soldiers who went over to Wiat so that he got back to London with great Difficulty For the appeasing these Tumults and avoiding of the Dangers that threatned them the Emperor's Ambassadors took Ship in the beginning of February and returned into Flanders The same day the Queen went into the City of London and in the Guild-Hall made a sharp Speech against Wiat saying she knew all his Projects and expressing the tender Love she bore to her People and saying she had done nothing in it without the Advice of her Council That she had now lived a considerable part of her Life in Virginity and that even now it was none of her Desires to Marry but would willingly have continued Single if the States had thought it convenient That she was very much afflicted to see her Kingdom endangered and filled with Slaughter and Bloodshed on the Account of her Marriage She desired
Baptism Whether original Sin is altogether obliterated in Baptism so that the Concupiscence which remains after Baptism loseth the name of Sin Whether the Bread be changed and Consecrated into the Body of Christ and the Wine into his Blood by virtue of the words which the Priest speaks and whether it continues such though it is not presently received Whether an Eucharist so Consecrated is to be worshipped Whether it be carried about in honour of Christ or carried to the Sick or reserved shut up Whether Christ is to be adored under the Species of Bread and Wine Whether whole Christ be under each of the Species Whether confession of Sins prepares a Man to the worthy receiving of the Eucharist Whether the Mass is a true and perpetual Sacrifice Whether both the Canons of the Mass are to be retained Whether the Sacrament of Confirmation is to be Exercised Whether there be three Parts in Pennance Contrition Confession and Satisfaction Whether the Priest can forgive a Man those Sins who has not Confessed them before Whether none but Priests have the Power of the Keys Whether the Souls of Holy Men have not Charity for us Whether they interceed with God on our behalf Whether the Saints are to be Invocated Whether the Holy-days consecrated to the Saints are rightly Celebrated Whether the Reliques of the Saints are to be worshipped Whether the Souls of the Pious which are not throughly purged are relieved by Masses Prayers Fasts and Alms Whether there is a place of Purgation Whether Lent and the other Fasts instituted by the Church ought to be observed Whether Men are to abstain from eating Flesh on the days it is forbidden by the Church Whether the People is to be incited to Religion by Ceremonies What Ceremonies are Pious and what not or less Pious To all these questions he answered the twenty seventh of May at large but though he confirmed his Answers not only by the Testimony of Scripture but also by those of the Fathers yet the twenty fifth day of June he was condemned and removed from all his Offices or Functions Towards the end of June the King of France marched with his Army out of Champagne and passing down by the Maes in the Provinces belonging to the Emperor he took Bovines and Dinant amongst many others and having plundered and dismantled them he took Marienbourg and Fortified and Garrisoned it The Emperor with his Forces leaving Brussels marched to Namur which stands upon the Sambre and the Maes five Miles below Dinant The King seem'd inclined to come to a Battel but when he saw the Emperor delayed it he turned off into Hainault and took the Town of Binche and a Castle which Mary Queen of Hungary extreamly loved being surrendred into his Hands he plundered and burnt it and with Fire and Rapines wasted all that Province Then entring Artois he sate down before Renty a Town upon the River Aa But the Emperor coming up his Forces being all by this time come up to him the King of France raised his Seige after which there happened only some light Skirmishes between the Armies In the same Month of August the French Army in Tuscany under the Command of Peter Strozza was surprized and defeated by the Imperial Forces under the Marquess di Marignano In this Battel the greatest part of the Swiss which I mentioned above to be sent thither by the French King were cut off In the mean time Prince Philip the Emperor's Son arrived the nineteenth day of July with a considerable Fleet from Spain at Southampton in England the twentieth he Landed and the twenty fifth he was Married to Queen Mary at Winchester by Gardiner Bishop of that City and then Chancellor of England in a vast concourse of the Nobility of both Nations amongst which was the Duke de Alva The day before his Marriage he had a long Conference with the Queen but the Marriage was deferred to the next day because it was the Festival of St. James the Patron of Spain The Emperor's Ambassador was at this Solemnity and presented the Bridegroom with a Resignation of the Kingdoms of Jerusalem and Naples in consideration of the Marriage After a short stay here the King and Queen went to London into which they made a splendid and magnificent Entry In August there was another small Diet of some of the States and Princes of Germany at Worms The Emperor urging the Execution of the Sentence given against Albert Marquess of Brandenburg who being driven out of his Territories in the manner I have above related retired first into Lorrain and from thence went to the Court of France the King not denying him his Protection There was thereupon a Jealousie arose in the Mind of the Emperor lest this restless Prince might attempt something against Alsatia or some others of the German Territories bordering upon France To prevent this the Circles of the Rhine sent some Troops to the Borders of Lorrain about the end of September to secure the Passes but there being no occasion for these Forces they returned without having done any thing but impoverished those places where they were quartered and made some inroads into Lorrain In October there was another Diet held at Franckfurt on the account of this and some other Affairs In this Convention a Letter of the Marquess of Brandenburg's was read in which he complains very much of the Militia that was employed of late to secure the Borders and especially of those that came from Artois he reflected severely amongst others on the Bishops of Trier and Strasburg and 〈◊〉 the Landgrave and said this Party of Horse were bloody Men and that they privately designed his Death The first of October there was a Letter read in the same Diet written to them in the German Tongue by the King of France In which speaking first of the ancient Union between France and Germany he said that the adverse Party made it their whole Business to put an end to it and of late years they prevailed so far that my Father was declared an Enemy by the Empire yet notwithstanding when ahout two years since the State of the Empire was very miserable and disordered I laid aside the memory of that Injury and gave a clear demonstration of my Affections to you following in this the Example of my Ancestors who have in all times made the dignity and enlargement of the Empire one of their Principal Cares For it cannot be shewn that the Kings of France have at any time injured the Empire But then our Enemies have endeavoured many ways to deprive you of your Liberties and Fortunes not only by inventing various Arts of Levying Money but also by inflaming the Factions in the Illustrious Families as you may easily see And though the Truth of this is clear yet by the perswasion of our Enemies some of the States which are next my Kingdom have as I hear taken Arms against me when I expected no
and be under an honest Discipline the Glory of God and the Consciences of men being in Safety That of late years a National Council of Germany had been often propos'd as extreamly accommodated to the present state of things but forasmuch as the Name Mode and Form of it was not in his opinion so well known and by use established he therefore would not at present determine any thing concerning it The third way by Conferences and Disputes had been often tried and though hitherto no good fruit had proceeded from thence yet many things might by this means have been discovered and the principal Differences might have been determined if they had been managed with a truly pious Affection and if there had not on both sides been too great an Attachment to their private Interest which Affirmation he nevertheless desired might not be extended to the injury of any man. That therefore this way was to be further considered And although the faithful Council and Design of the Emperor was some years since misunderstood and so became ungrateful to both the Parties yet if they thought so fit he did still think that way might be useful if the contending Parties would act sincerely and if they would lay aside their Passions and discharge all Obstinacy and seek nothing but the Glory of God and the Salvation of Men that then he would assist them in it with fidelity and industry That for the present he could not bethink him of any other convenient and useful Way But that if they could find out any one that was more fit and easie they should have his good leave to produce it The next Thing to be considered of as he said was the Peace of the Empire That the Emperor and they too thought That the Measures they had then taken for the preservation of the Publick Peace had been such as would certainly have had a good effect but then since the Event has shewed them all that they were mistaken in this because they had agreed that Rebels and Seditious Persons should not be condemned or outlawed till they had first been cited and convicted according to the Forms of Justice which in the interim gave them time and opportunity of ruining many innocent men It was also then Agreed That if any Force were employ'd against any man his Neighbors should assist and defend him But then you are now abundantly convinc'd what variety of Impediments may intervene to hinder this That therefore they should deliberate and seriously consider how these two Heads of the Laws may be amended That unquiet men might be kept in Aw and that those who were faithful to the Empire might be well assured that they should not fail of Assistance in time of need That this might now be dispatched with so much the greater ease because the Foundations of such a Regulation had been laid by the late Conventions at Worms and Franckfurt and they should do well to prosecute the Consultation which had been begun there and bring it to a good end He desired also that they would consider of the constituting the Publick Justice of the Publick Contributions of the Money and all other things relating to the Government That they should direct all their Thoughts to the finding out ways for the total abolishing their intestine Evils Contentions Riots Seditions and unjust Force and Violence That in all these Deliberations they should in the first place consider the State of the Empire and reflect upon the great Danger which now threatned Germany not only from the devouring Turk but also from some nearer Enemies who sought the Ruine of the Empire as much as the Turks did That therefore they should deeply consider what great Advantages their Enemies took of these Offences and Civil Broyls which they craftily stirr'd up and nourished that in this division of the States they in the Interim might do their Wills and when time served they might with great Forces fall upon the Empire and enslave it to them That the Neighbour-Nations which had been thus conquered and circumvented by them ought to be a Caution to Germany and excite in it a mighty care to pursue those Counsels by which the Tempest and Ruine which now hung over her Head and threatned her might be averted That the Authority and Strength of the Empire might be preserved and that all external Force might be no less valiantly resisted now than heretofore That whatever Help or Counsel the Emperor or He were able to contribute they should not fail of doing it with all willingness and in such manner too that all men should from thence understand how greatly they loved their Country and of this he desired they would rest certainly assured When this Speech of King Ferdinand's came once to be spred over Germany it was attended with a Report That he had banished about 200 Ministers out of Bohemia and it was also said That the Cardinal of Moron would be sent from Rome to this Diet who was to try if he could not make Germany follow the Example of England and do what Pool had already done for that the Pope and all his Patry was thought to have been so exalted by the reduction of England that they had thereupon entertain'd vast but deluding Hopes For because the Thing went as they desired therefore they concluded That God was now appeased and was become the Defender of their most just Cause and that their Church could not be convinced of any Error for thus at this time they boasted more than they were wont And when they send any Legates into Germany at any time they do it not to confess any Offence they have committed but as they pretend that they may heal the Infirmities of men About the End of February Albert Duke of Mecklenburg whom we have mentioned above as an Ally to Maurice Duke of Saxony and whom Henry Duke of Brunswick the last year whilst he carried the War into Saxony very much afflicted married the Daughter of Albert Duke of Prussia About this time also I received an Account out of England That Bradford whom I have mentioned above to be condemned was kept a Prisoner anâ— that the Minds of many were much astonished and stupified with the Constancy of those who had Sacrificed their Lives Bradford was burnt in July following The End of the Twenty Fifth Book THE HISTORY OF THE Reformation of the Church BOOK XXVI The CONTENTS England submits to the Church of Rome The Castle of Blaffeburg taken and levelled with the Earth Augustus Elector of Saxony excuseth his not coming to the Diet. The Prince of Saxony writes to the Emperor Cardinal Pool endeavours to make a Peace between the Emperor and the King of France The Emperor writes to the States of the Empire The Turk besiegeth Piombino a Town in Italy The Town of Vulpiano destroyed by the French. The Parliament of Paris answereth the King's Edict against the Lutherans A Controversy about the County of Catzenellobogen Charles
scarce have been possible to have reduced you to Concord And when so many other Princes have made a defection from the Church and that Enemy of Mankind has invented such variety of Stratagems against you yet God in his divine Goodness has look'd upon you and defeated the devices and attempts of the Devil By which he has given us a certain Token not only of his Goodness and Clemency towards you but also of his Intentions to use your Services and to unite you two to his Vicar on Earth for the taking away these destructive Contentions and restoring a general Peace both as to Church and State. These and many other such Arguments did that Cardinal offer to the Consideration of these Princes threatning them also with the Wrath and Vengeance of God if they did not desist and suffer their People which was grievously Harrassed and impoverished to recover Now though these Arguments did not prevail then yet when he went into England he went on with his design of reconciling them and at last he prevailed so far as to dispose both the Emperor and King of France to send their Ambassadors to treat of a Peace The Queen of England who was the Mediator in this Treaty appointed a place betwen Calais Ardee and Graveling three Towns belonging to these three Princes in the Center of which she chose out a dry and convenient place in the middle of a Plain and having moted the same she caused four houses to be built which though not intended for any long duration were yet made very convenient and Beautiful In this place the Ambassadors met the twenty third of May. There met for the Emperor amongst others the Bishop of Arras for the King of France the Cardinal of Lorrain and the Constable and for the English as Mediators were present Cardinal Pool the Earl of Arundel and the Lord Paget A Rumour spread it self throughout Christendom which caused great Expectations and various Judgments in the Minds of Men and especially in those who were best acquainted with the Controversies of these Times for that in this Treaty the Dukedoms of Milan and Burgundy Savoy Piedmont Corsica Navarr Lorrain and Luxemburg and the Cities of Toul Verdun and Metz were to be contended for and setled The Affair being much and long debated and the Mediating English insisting to have some of these things referred to the determination of a Council nothing at last was done but the Treaty was broke up The tenth of June Ferdinand and the States of Germany wrote a Letter to the Emperor wherein they desired him that in this Treaty he would particularly concern himself for the restitution of those Places which the King of France had taken from the Empire When therefore the Meeting was ended without any Effect the Emperor the twenty fifth of June wrote to the Diet to this Purpose It is very grateful to me to see you thus affected with the Calamities of those who have been so much afflicted by the publick Enemy of the Empire and of me and truely their Cause was most dear to me and I accordingly before I received your Letter had commanded my principal Ambassadors who were to attend this Treaty that they should persist in the restitution of these places to their former State with the utmost diligence and they should not remit any thing as to that Article And although I for my part having opened all the ways I could to a Peace thought that the King of France would for the sake of Peace not have been stubborn and refractory yet after all the Congress is for the present broke up without any good Effect Yet however that I may consult the good of Christendom I will not refuse to make a Peace if any tollerable Conditions are offered and when time serves I will do my endeavour to have those places restored to the Empire and to put them for the future into a better Condition than they were before The Emperor had a little before sent the Duke de Alva into Milan that he might take care of the War there as his General Ferdinand Gonzaga having obtained a release from that Post and being about this time gone from Flanders to live privately at Home There was also a strong Report which prevailed much about this time that Mary Queen of England was with Child About this time also the Persecution in England grew sharper Bradford who was condemned to be burnt in the manner I have set down in the end of my twenty fifth Book and was afterwards respited and kept in Prison was burnt in July Frederick the eldest Son of John Frederick Duke and Elector of Saxony Married Agnes the Daughter of the Landgrave of Hesse and which had been the Wife of Maurice the last Elector of Saxony Many of the neighbouring Princes met on the occasion of this Marriage and appointed a second Meeting at Naumburg to consult of their affairs About the same time Joan the Mother of the Emperor died and Ferdinand her second Son celebrated her Obsequies at Ausburg About the same time there was a tumult raised at Geneva in the night time by some of the Senators of that City who designed by this means to make themselves and their Party Masters of that Commonwealth these Men had also a great aversion for John Calvin who had fled thither on the account of the Persecâ—tions in France and now the driving him out of this City was one of the principal Motives of this Insurrection In the night time there was a sudden Commotion made in several parts of the City and the Cry was The French are in Arms and the City is betrayed The French in the mean time keeping within their Houses and so the design miscarried and many of them who were in this leud Conspiracy were Executed and some others were forced to fly for the safety of their Lives The reason why they would have had the French Banished out of the City was because many of the French Fugitives and Sojourners in the City had been lately taken into the number of the Citizens by which they believed their Party was weakned and the other encreased The Turkish Fleet came this Year into the Tyrrhenian Sea as it had done several years before and much terrified Tuscany That therefore there might be the less dammage done by this Navy the Marquess di Marignano General of the Emperors Forces about the thirteenth of June suddenly set upon Porto Ercole which was then in the Hands of the French and by the Valour of his Soldiers took the Castle and slew all the French that were there in Garrison after this the Turks too besieged Piombino but receiving great Losses in their Attacks and not being likely ever to take it they left that place and attempted the Island of Elba belonging to the Duke of Florence but to no purpose neither About this time there were some Civil Laws published by the King of France at
Metz that Prince having established there a Garrison a Governour and a President of Justice amongst other things it was there enacted that if any Brother Sister Uncle Tutor or Guardian Prostituted any Woman or Maiden that was under their Charge he should have an Iron Hoop put about his Neck and be so exposed for some time to the scorn hatred and reproaches of all Men and he should be beaten afterwards with Rods and Banished the City and if any Father or Mother should do the same it should be Death Many Men wondred at these Laws and thought it was rather in order to teach Men Crimes that were rarely or never heard of than to restrain them from these Faults But in truth it shews the Corruption of our Times We have often already mentioned the famous Controversy which has been so many Years depending between the Landgrave and William Count of Nassaw concerning the Dominion of Catzenellobogen in the Landgravat of Hassia that an end might be put to this Difference and the rise of greater Mischiefs prevented some of the Neighbour Princes interposed as Honorary Arbitrators To this end the Elector Palatine Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg and William Duke of Cleve met in the beginning of July at Wormes and the Landgrave sent William his eldest Son to manage this Treaty for him There were some Conditions proposed and a Debate insued but at last they resolved to take further time to consider of it and appointed another time to meet and determine it In the mean time the French destroyed as many of the Castles in Montisferrat as they had in their Possession for fear any of them being surprized by the Spaniards might be imployed to hinder the supplying of Casale with Necessaries There was in this Dukedom a strong Castle called Vulpiano which has belonging to it a Town of some moment and was then in the possession of the Spaniards and upon the reception of the Duke de Alva great part of the Forces in these Parts being assembled to welcome their new General he took this opportunity to furnish that Place with Provisions and about the same time the French re-victualled Marienbourg a Town in Hainault which they took the last year from the Emperor About this time also the King of France published an Edict by the perswasion of his Friends commanding all his Presidents to Punish without delay or any regard had to any Appeal all those who by the Ecclesiastical Chancellors and the Inquisitors should be condemned for Hereticks This Edict was by the Cardinal of Lorrain brought into the Parliament of Paris that according to the Custom of France they might approve publish and register it But those Senators being surprized with the novelty of the design because it took away all benefit of Appeals took time to consider of it and some time after sent some of their Members to acquaint the King with their Thoughts of this Edict as I shall set forth in due time There is a City in Switzerland called Lucerne which is the Capital of one of their Cantons and lies not far from Italy The Inhabitants desired they might be suffered to imbrace the Reformation those Cantons which were of the Roman-Catholick Religion hereupon differed amongst themselves whilst some were for the granting this Liberty and others opposed it and it was thought this would have caused some intestine Commotions against them but at last the Party prevailed who were for maintaining the old Religion and that those who were not for it might have their liberty to withdraw Whereupon a great number of the Inhabitants of that City went to Zurich which City was very Hospitable towards them and assisted them with great Liberality About this time the English Ambassadors who were sent to Rome as I have said in the end of the last Book returned home The Pope much approved their Repentance and begging his Pardon But then he would not allow of the retaining of the Church Lands Amongst these Ambassadors was Thirlby Bishop of Ely. The King of Denmark had also sent a Fleet to the Northward which caused various Discourses amongst Men for some said it was done at the Instigation of the Emperor who designed the putting his Son or Brother in the Possession of Scotland others said it was for the Service of the French King others said it was to prevent any attempts might be made by the Emperor or his Son who by the accession of the Crown of England to his other Dominions was become very formidable and it was also thought that on this Score the Hanse Towns ccontributed to the Charge of this Fleet. After all these various Reports had been bandied up and down at last they all vanished and it was said that the Navy was designed against none but the Pirates The State of Rome at this time was also very unquiet the Pope having some of the great Men in suspition and thereupon having doubled the Guards and fixed the military Stations in several places of the City he ordered the Cardinal of Santa Flora Sfortia and Canâ—llus Colona to be Imprisoned Because these were Creatures of the Emperor most Men thought the Pope design'd something further against that Prince which distrust was yet more encreased afterwards upon the Pope's demanding a vast sum of Money which had been lent to Alexander de Medices Duke of Florence and one of the Emperor's Favourites by the two last Popes Clement VII and Julius the III. during the Seige of Siena but in a short time those great Men were discharged upon Bail. About the same time a Fleet failed from Spain for Flanders loaden with all sorts of Merchandize this coming upon the Coast of Normandy the French who had long before heard it was coming set upon it with great Force and there followed an horrible Engagement in which many of their Ships on both fides were burnt and funk and great numbers of the Men perished by Fire and Sword and drowning but in the end the French took some of Spanish Ships and carried them into the Port of Dieppe from whence they came this happened in the Month of August in the end of which Month King Philip left England and went to his Father to Brussels attended by great numbers of the Nobility of England Some few Years since Truccesius Cardinal of Ausburg had opened an University at Diliâ—gbon a City upon the Danube in the Diocess of Ausburg by the Permission and Consent of Julius the III. who confirmed this University by a Bull and gave it great Immunities and Priviledges as may be seen in this Bull which has since been published in Print Amongst many others who about this time retired to this Place was Peter Asoto a Spanish Dominican who had been many years the Emperor's Confessor This Year this Person began an Answer to the Book which contains the sum of the Christian Faith which Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg tendered as I have said by his Ambassadors to the Fathers assembled
great Poverty took the opportunity when his Wife was abroad and murder'd all his Children the eldest was a Girl of seven years of age the second a Boy of four years old and the youngest an Infant of about six months old and in the Cradle This Murther was committed the 10th of April There was then also a strong Report That the Pope and his Partisans had entred a secret Combination against those of the Augustan Confession This Opinion was the more easily entertain'd because it was certainly known that the Pope was much incens'd against the Decree made the last year at Ausburg by which Peace and Liberty were granted to those of that Religion And it was believed he had sollicited the Emperour to declare that Edict to be void for he saw that men daily made a defection from his Kingdom and he well knew what had been desired by the Inhabitants both of Austria and Bavaria To this was added a meeting of the Archbishops of Ments Trier and Cologne at the Batbes and it was suspected this meeting was not for nothing King Ferdinand having put an end to the Dyet of Austria went into Bobemia and summon'd a Dyet of that Kingdom and of the near Provinces at Prague in which he demanded and obtain'd Moneys for his defence against the Turks After this he sent Letters to the Deputies who had now expected him some months at Raticbon in which he excus'd his not coming to them and acquainted them with his being necessitated to go to Vienna before he could come thither and then he prorogued their Session to the first of June After King Ferdinand was return'd out of Bobemia the Lgndtgrave went into Misnia and staid some time with Augustus Duke of Saxohy The 10th day of May the Duke of Areschot who was a Prisoner in the Castle of Vincenne which stands not far from Paris made his escape and came safely home The Cardinal of Ausburg about the same time being return'd from Rome where he had continu'd about a year and hearing how suspitiously most men spoke and thought of him as one that was engag'd in close Designs with the Pope for the Ruin of Germany In the end of May he put out a Vindication of himself in the German-Tongue which was to this purpose When the last year after the Death of Julius II. saith he I went to Rome as the duty of my Place obliged me I was one of those who elected the present Pope I then intended to take the first opportunity of returning into Germany but I was detained by the Pope who was then deliberating about the Reformation of the Church and having for that purpose chosen some Learned Men of all Nations he was pleased to appoint me for one though I was not worthy of such a Trust because I was a German But then because my Bishoprick requir'd my presence here I at last obtain'd leave of the Pope to return home which I could not obtain till the last day of March immediately after which I began my Journey hither Now though I have ever since my Advancement to this Dignity and before behaved my self so that no ill thing can truly be laid to my charge which I desire may not be taken for a proud boast and although I have ever been an Adviser and Promoter of Peace to my great damage and hindrance and have ever taken all the care I could for the Honour and Safety of my Countrey yet as soon as ever I arriv'd in Germany I was acquainted by my Friends who are worthy of credit That during my absence there was a Book printed here to defame me as if I had enter'd into a Combination with the Pope and other Italian Princes to involve Germany and especially those of that Nation who embrace the Augustan Confession in a calamitous War. Now they pretended in this Paper That the cause of this Attempt and of this close Treaty was that the Pope was very much offended with the Decree made in the last Dyet at Ausburg that he had laboured to persuade the Emperour to reverse it that he had absolved that Prince from the Oath he had given them that he had promised the Emperour all the help and assistance he could give him for the Conquest of Germany provided the Emperour would assist him in the Recovery of his Spiritual Jurisdiction in Germany that he had to that end procur'd a Truce between the Emperour and the French King that both their Forces might be employ'd in this Work. And they added That German Soldiers were at present to be listed and no other to the end the Design might be the better conceal'd that the King of England was to send 8000 Horse and to be General in this War and that Levies were made in several places In short that all things were manag'd with that care that all the Forces were to begin their March at the same time and suddenly to in vade the Empire whil'st most of the Princes were from home at the Dyet of Ratisbon that both the Pope and the King of England had sent Envoys to several of the Princes of Germany and made them great promises the Pope especially that he would send a great Body of Horse and Foot to their Assistance that I have traduced Otto Henry Elector Palatine Christopher Duke of Wirtemburg and Albert Marquess of Brandenburg as Lutherans Seditious men and worthy to be driven out of their Countreys that the Lantgrave was in the mean time much commended by me in an Assembly of the Cardinals because he had made a defection from his Religion and one of his Ministers called Titelman had both by Word and Writing recanted his Religion at Rome Now because these slanders do not only affect the Pope and the Emperour but Me also and my Reputation and because it is the duty of a good man to justifie his own and his Princes Honour and Innocency it is fit I should answer all the Accusations In the first place therefore I say it is a great affliction to me to find there are still some men who contrary to the old German Virtue Constancy and Fidelity can be induced to lend an assent to such slanders as these and seem to design by these leud Libels and Reports to excite the minds of the Princes of the Empire against their Head and to engage them in a cruel and wicked War amongst themselves I believe many can remember that dismal turbulent and dangerous Galumny which about 32 years since was invented and spread abroad That King Ferdinand the Archbishops of Mentz Saltzburg and Wurtsburg the Elector of Brandenburg William and Lewis of Bavaria and George Duke of Saxony were all combin'd in a League against John Elector of Saxony and the Landtgrave which prevail'd so far that it had like to have ended in a destructive War. Certainly the Princes ought not to forget those times For that Villany was discovered the several Princes as they were obliged having printed each of them
a Vindication of himself wherein he denied the matter charged upon him and thereupon the Author of this Calumny being discovered he was deservedly executed And I hope this here will have the same event and that God who is the just Avenger of such ill Practices will discover the Authors of this pernitious Invention In the mean time I offer up my Prayers to God That he would give them a better mind and disappoint their wicked Counsels that they may not prevail to the Destruction of our Country For seeing this slander is of the same nature with the former it may easily be concluded the Authors of this had the same Design with the former or rather that it was made by it that what was discover'd and prevented then may now have its effect Now the main design of this Calumniator is to create a belief that the Pope and the Emperour have resolved to rescind the Decree made for the Peace of Religion by a War and that the King of England and the Bishops of Germany are to lend their assistances to it Now I say this feigned and false Invention is designed for the exasperating the minds of Men that their Prejudices and Disaffections being increased a Civil War may be stirr'd up amongst us to overwhelm our Country with the Blood of its Inhabitants And although I do not doubt but the Emperour and the othe Princes who are injur'd by this Seditious and Infamous Libel will take care to defend themselves and to right their own Cause yet at the same time I believe it is a part of my own Duty to clear the Reputation of our Supreme Magistrate And I protest whil'st I was at Rome in my presence or to my knowledge there was not one word spoken concerning the Peace of Religion and therefore it is very falsly laid to the Pope's charge that his main design is to persuade the Emperour and other Kings to destroy that Decree by Force and Arms I say this is false and can never be proved and by consequence what is charged upon the Emperour is false too for seeing there has been no Treaty between them how can a War be agreed and the recovering the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and the Conquest of Germany be resolv'd on This Slander pretends That the Truce is made between the Emperour and the King of France to the intent that the Souldiers which are disbanded on both sides may be employ'd in in this War Now the causes of that Truce are sufficiently set forth in the printed Copies of the Treaty and the Souldiers which were thereupon disbanded are not entertain'd by any Prince except what Forces King Ferdinand has order'd to be levy'd and sent into Hungary against the Turk and some few which have been taken into Pay by the Bishops of Ausburg Norimburg Bamberg and Wurtsburg that they may not be taken altogether unprovided So that all this Invention as it relates to the Pope the Emperour and the Bishops is false in all its parts Now as to what concerns my self I have hitherto followed the Ancient True and Catholick Religion as becomes a German pursuing the footsteps of my Ancestors and continuing in the Communion of that Church in which I had my Education as I have already declared by a Letter I sent to the last Diet and by my Deputies which I sent thither and I intend by the blessing of God to continue in this Opinion nor will I do any thing which is contrary to Honesty and my Duty and yet after all I desire to live peaceably with all men And whereas I am said to have entred into a secret Treaty with the Pope the Emperour the King of England some Princes of the Empire and some private persons to stir up a War this is most false and that also which concerns the Elector Palotine and the Duke of Wirtemberg and the Marquess of Brandenburg is most false and can never be proved and those who spread such Reports of me by Word or Writing are Slanderers and the Enemies of our Country That which relates to the Elector Palatine stands thus The Office and Dignity I enjoy requires me to endeavour the preservation of the Rights of my Bishoprick and that I should preserve the People committed to my Charge in the Ancient and Catholick Religion being therefore inform'd that Otto Henry Elector Palatine endeavorued to gain over to his Religion some Towns that were in my Diocess and that he had placed Preachers in them I could not but take this ill and I had just cause given me to defend my self against him by a Suit at Law and thereupon I being absent my Councel by my Order commenced a Suit against him in the Chamber of Spire where it is still depending nor have I in any thing else so much as in Word hurt or injur'd his Honour so far have I been from designing any thing against his Countries and if it had lain in my power to have served him his Countries or People I would not have omitted it and for this I believe his People would be my Witnesses because they know I have kept my Faith to them and have assisted them sometimes when they were in great distresses To which I may add That I have ever had particular affection for the Palatine Family and I have ever been ready to do it all the good I could nor is that Disposition at all changed in me and I have the same kindness for Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg who is a Good Wise Politick Prince and a great lover of Peace upon the account of these rare qualities I have had a great propension for him ever since I first knew him and have study'd to make this appear in my actions But then as to the driving Him or the Elector Palatine out of their Countries it never entred into my thoughts and if I had known of any Design which had tended to the damage of their Reputations or Estates I should certainly have been very much grieved and have done what was in my power to prevent it I have hitherto so behav'd my self at all times that I believe no man can find any thing in my actions which is contrary to my Profession and for the future I will ever carry my self so that I will raise a greater belief than I now have in the minds of men out of an hope that as I have given no just cause of offence to them so they at last will be prevail'd upon to remunerate me with an equal degree of kindness And as to the Case of Albert Marquess of Brandenburg he himself knows how greatly I am concern'd for his misfortunes for what is it which I have not done and tried in order to restore the Peace of the Empire and to put a stop to that Quarrel In truth I took so much pains and care in that Affair that tho' I aim'd at the Publick Good by it yet at last I was suspected by some as one that favoured his Interest
too much and would for his sake prejudice others But then how candidly I manag'd that business will appear by my Letters to him Seeing then I have been thus disposed towards him and he cannot charge me to have omitted any thing which it became me to do for him I have great confidence that as becomes his natural Virtue and true Nobility he will believe my Words or rather my Actions which are full of light than these seditious men who like Bellows endeavour to kindle a Fire amongst us With how great charity and kindness I have ever entertain'd all Germans whil'st I was at Rome out of a kind remembrance I have of my dearest Country may be easily known from the Ambassadors of many of the Princes and many of the Nobility will bear me witness who were then at Rome when I was there insomuch that the Nobility of Mentz Trier Cologne Saxony Brandenburg Magdeburg Bavaria Brunswick Passaw Osnaburg Minden and Basil did all as one man repair to me who heard all their Affairs with great fidelity and by my Interest and Commendations I procured some of them Commanders Places and other Employments which were convenient for them And now as to what concerns the Landtgrave what a silly fiction the story of one Titelman is for I never had any discourse with the Landtgrave or his Sons about this Affair nor do I remember I ever mention'd him all the while I was at Rome or in Italy It is equally as unknown to me what the Ministers of his Countries Teach or Recant and I may truly aver that to my knowledge there was no such Recantation made at Rome and therefore I do not question but if he be ask'd the Landtgrave himself will confute both this and the story of his Commendation as false Now seeing the Authors of this wicked Libel have basely made all that is in it that they might by these Lyes revive that Fire which they kindled so many years since to the end that it might break out afresh and burn with equal Rage it is fit the Princes and Magistrates should diligently preserve themselves from the danger of them and when they shall be discover'd to make them such Examples of their Justice as may terrifie others from the same Offences Lastly If there should happen to be some who on the account of these slanders have taken up and ill Opinion of me I most earnestly desire them they would lay by their hard thoughts of me and that they would certainly believe that as I am a German by Birth and descended of an Illustrious and Noble Family so I will do nothing unworthy of the Virtue of my Ancestors and the Dignity of my Family Having as I said published this Paper the 27th of June he sent â—everal Letters to the same purpose to the Princes of Germany and then return'd back to Rome at the same time that Bona the Mother of Sigismund King of Poland return'd to Naples her Native Country In the mean time there were as is reported some Commotions in England and some were Imprison'd and others Beheaded and others escaped into France in which number was Andrew Dudley Brother to the late Duke of Northumberland and two of the Princess Elizabeth's Servants were taken up The 15th of May Peter Cart who had fled some months before for a Sedition was reconcil'd to King Philip and Sir John Cheeck who had been Praeceptor to Edward VI. and was come into the Low Countries to meet his Wife and going from Brussels to Antwerp they were both taken and treated with great Indignity â—nd at last shipp'd for London In the end of June Thirteen were ty'd to one Stake and burnt near London for their Religion In the mean time Charles Marquess of Baden received the Augustan Confession and borrowed Ministers of the Neighbour Princes and States to instruct People and reform his Churches The Chamber of Spire had before this time admitted one or two Ministers of the Gospel Maximilian the eldest Son of King Ferdinand going about this time from Vienna with Elizabeth his Lady a Daughter of the Emperour 's the 17th of July they arrived at Brussels which Journey they undertook after a long sollicitation to it Peter Martyr the Florentine who has been often mentioned by me lefe Strâ—â—burg about this time and went to Zurich upon the account of the revival of the old Quarrel concerning the Lord's Supper he having been ill treated in some Books written on that Subject which inclin'd him the more to setle in Zurich where he should have greater liberty to write upon it and teach his Judgment in this Point Conradus Pelicanus the old Professor of Hebrew at Zurich died also about this time and thereupon the Ministers of that City persuaded their Senate to write to that of Strasburg to send them Peter Martyr to be his Successer The 13th of July he left Strasburg to the great sorrow of many who loved him for his incomparable Learning exquilite Judgment great Civility and Modesty and his other rare Virtues About the same time the Archbishop and Cardinal of Pisa who was a Sicilian by Birth travell'd through Bafil to the Emperour in the Low Countries to whom he was sent by the Pope the Cardinal of Carassa a near Kinsman of the Pope's having been sent some small time before to the King of France There was a Report which was also confirm'd by Writing That there were great Debates between the Pope and the Emperour and that things tended to a War for that amongst other Grievances the Pope had disposessed the Family of Colonna of their Estates in Campagnia di Rome which was esteem'd an Injury to the Emperour and besides he would not admit King Philip the Emperour's Son to the Succession of the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily which are Fees holden of the See of Rome but upon very hard conditions those Kingdoms paying a Tribute to the Popes of Rome This ended in a War the next year The 15th of July Albert Duke of Bavaria in the Name of King Ferdinand began the Dyet at Ratisbon he being in the mean time detain'd from coming hither at the time appointed by his Dyets in Austria and Bohemia which as I said he was now holding Hereupon he acquainted the States with the great Difficulties which oppressed him and the Reasons why he could not be present in this Dyet He said That all Transylvania had revolted to one John by the procurement of one Peter Petrowich a Subject of his and when there was no necessity nor any just cause of War sollicited the Turk for Succours That after this Francis Beveck and George his Son had raised a Rebellion against him in Hungary and with the help of the Walachians had taken several Towns and Castles That the Turks had sent a Bassa to govern Buda That another Bassa in the time of a Treaty of Peace had besieged Sigeth from the 11th of June and had batter'd it with all the violence
it they re-assumed their wonted Courage and made a brave Irruption in which they fired all the Wood that had been thrown into the Dikes This abated the Fury of Haly so effectually that he lay only pelting the Town with his Cannon to the twenty first of July and then was glad of an Opportunity to draw off to succour Babots which was assaulted by one Nadasad who fought this Army and made a great slaughter among them And after this the Christians retreating towards Canisa lost two hundred of their Men and among them a Brother of Nadasad's Upon this small Advantage Haly returned to the Siege of Sigeth but was entertained with Scorn and Laughter He began another Battery against the Castle and used all the Arts and Wheedling and Terrour to persuade the Garrison to yield but the Besieged returned his Courtship with military Sallies and slew a great many of his Men and in one of them they maintained a Fight eight Hours against all the Turkish Forces so that tho' the Town was above half ruined yet the Turkish General was forced the twenty ninth of July to draw off to Quinque Ecclesiae after he had sent away his Cannon and Baggage he spent above two thousand of his best Men in this Seige and yet he slew not above one hundred and sixteen of the Defendants but then he satiated his Fury on the smaller Places This Haly was an Eunuch of small Stature but very Corpulent Tawny Complexioned of a Sowre Countenance fierce Eyes broad Shouldered short Necked and having two Fore-teeth like a Bore's Tusks so that a more ugly contemptible Personage was never seen but he was a Man of great Courage and Subtlety Whilest he lay before Sigeth the Germans surprized Gran by Scaldo a poor Turk came to give him an account of this Loss with so much Consternation in his Looks that Haly clapt his Hand between his Thighs and said in scorn This was the dreadful Loss when I was deprived of my Virilities He was not long after forced with great shame and Dishonour to enter his Government of Buda where he dyed of Rage and Discontent I have insisted the longer upon this because it was one of the most memorable Sieges in that Age. Our Author has already given an account of the Resignation of the Kingdom of Naples and the Dukedom of Milan by Charles V to his Son Philip soon after his Marriage to Queen Mary and this Summer he resigned the Netherlands and Spain to him so that he had nothing left but the Empire This great Prince stripping himself by degrees of all his Greatness and External Majesty and feeling a great Pleasure in the lightning his Burthen being then at Sudbury in Zealand and just ready to imbark for Spain he made a Resignation of the Empire to his Brother Ferdinand the seventh of September in this form CHARLES by the Divine Clemency Emperour of the Romans August c. to all and every the Electoral Princes as well Ecclesiastical as Secular the Prelates Counts Barons Knights Nobles Captains Viscounts Governours Lieutenants Magistrates Judges Burgomasters Consuls Citizens and Commonalties and all other the Subjects of the said Empire our Faithful and beloved People of what State Dignity or Condition soever We wish Friendship Grace and every Good Thing We being admonished by many and great Reasons and very much burthened with Our great Age and with continual Annoyance of our Infirmities which has almost overpower'd Our Natural Strength and rendred Our Body in firm which makes Us unfit for Business and having long since determined That Our Kingdom of Spain should go to the most Serene Prince Philip Our Son King of Spain and England And having thereupon abandoned Our usual Palace We have removed with Our Court hither in order with the first good Wind to embark for Spain all things being now ready for that purpose so that Our Voyage can be hindred by none but God Wherefore by this Our Absence the Government of the Sacred Empire belongs to the most Serene and Potent Prince Ferdinand King of the Romans Hungary and Bohemia and Our dearest Brother as being lawfully elected King of the Romans and the next uncontestable Successor after Us the which Government has even already many Years since by our Assent been managed by him in our Name with great Affection he having born the Weight of of it for us with a true brotherly and kind Solicitude That therefore the Christian Commonwealth and especially the Sacred Empire may sustain no Dammage which God prevent whilst We are a far off and that Our said Brother the King of the Romans may transact all Affairs with the greater Authority We have resolved and declared That as King of the Romans he shall have Power absolutely of himself without Our Concurrence to do treat and command all those things which to him shall seem necessary and convenient to the Dignity Profit and Increase of the sacred Empire in the same manner as We could have done the same as Emperour of the Romans In truth there is nothing which We desired so much as to have been present in Person in your Dyet before this Our Voyage which is now assembled at Ratisbonne one of our Imperial Cities and to have brought the Publick Affairs to their desired End by your Advice and then to have committed the Government to Our Brother the King of the Romans in it in our stead whereby we might have admonished you to pay him that Obedience which is due to him But Our Indisposition of Body which is known to all would not suffer Us to take so long a Journey and especially by Land. Besides We consider that the Slipping this favourable Season for Sailing is a thing of great Consideration Wherefore we being not able personally to come to the Dyet as We desired and determined to do nor to bring Our Designs to their Effect Yet We were desirous to make known Our Affection and Devotion to you all by this Edict and discovery of our Mind and thereby expresly to command all and every of you by the tenour of these Letters and by the Imperial Authority under Pain of our greatest Indignation That ye as hath been often said yield to the said King of the Romans Fidelity Obedience and Reverence in Our Name and stead in all his Edicts Commands and Actions and that ye do not resist or disobey him in any thing but observe him in all things as You ought to do to us if we were present in the Empire lest by doing otherwise or suffering your selves to be persuaded to the contrary you do excite and procure Our greatest Indignation And this is Our express and last Will. Given under our Seal at Sudbury in Zealand the seventh Day of September in the Year of our Lord 1556 and in the thirty sixth Year of our Empire I have sought up and transcribed this rare Piece from the Italian Copy in Alfonso Volla in his Life of Charles
till this was done they ought not to be condemned The Roman Catholicks who were weary of the Conference thereupon would go no further in it till they had given an Account of this to the Emperor Ferdinand commanded them to go on and said it was enough if in the Progress of the Conference when they had explained the several Articles they did at last remark what was disallowed by the common consent in each of them But the Bishop of Naumburg refusing to go on except he were first certain of the Faith of those he was to dispute with the Conference broke up without effect when there had only been some Papers exchanged between them concerning the Rule of Judging Controversies and Original Sin. And all the blame was by the Roman Catholicks thrown upon the Divisions which were among them Thus far Thuanus Now the design of the Condemnation was a Division of the Protestant Interest that whereas they were too many for the Romau Catholicks while they were united they might hâ—ave the Consent of those of the Augustane Confession to ruin the Zuinglians and then they should with the less difficulty extirpate by the Sword the Lutherans too and in the mean time they knew very well they were never able to convince them by a Disputation when it was utterly impossible they should ever agree about the Rule that was to end these Differences the Roman Catholicks Assigning the perpetual Consent of the Church And the Lutherans the Old and New Testaments and the Ancient Creeds and allowing no other Writings but as far as they agreed with these some Ages being purer than others Certainly no wise Man of either Side ever did think that any of these Conferences could put an end to these Controversies though they have made use of them to promote by Ends. And that Side that was uppermost hath ever yet reaped the Advantage and so it will be till God himself put an End to this Controversie But to return now to the War between France and Spain The Truce being broken by the Attempt upon Doway which I have mention'd already the War went heavily on because the Flower of the Nobility and Gentry were gone with the Duke of Guise into Italy which had much dispirited and weakned France And the Duke de Montmorancy who from the beginning had a great Aversion for this War which he foresaw would end in the Ruin of France was more intent in levying Soldiers to defend the Borders of the Netherlands than in prosecuting the War against King Philip and Invading his Dominions In the mean time Queen Mary of England being over-persuaded by King Philip her Husband and disposed to it by the Arts of Dr. Wotton who was then her Embassadour in France and by his Nephew who found the French were well disposed to a Rupture with England if Calice might be the Price of it she I say entred into the War too and sent an Herald to the French Court with a Declaration to that purpose who deliver'd it the Seventh of June The French King took no less care to raise a War between England and Scotland by way of Diversion Mary the Queen of Scotland being before this sent into France to be married to the Dauphin his Eldest Son. So that he thought he had now a Right to Command that Nation to espouse his Quarrel but the Scotch Nobility thought otherwise and would not Engage in a War against England when they had no interest of their own to do it The Spaniards were all this while intent in providing Men and Arms and the Twenty fifth of July attack'd the Fort of Rocroy in the Borders of Champagne and Hainalt four Leagues from Maribourg to the South but finding there a greater Resistance than they expected they marched away towards Picardy with an Army of Thirty five thousand Foot and Twelve thousand Horse The Body of the French Army being but Eighteen thousand Foot and Five thousand Horse and for the most part both Sides Germans so that the French thought it their Interest to coast along by the Enemy and defend their Borders and cover their Towns which was all they could safely do in this inequality of Forces There was then a very small Garrison in St. Quintin under the Command of Charles de Teligny Captain of the Troop of Guards belonging to the Dauphin but the Army coming suddenly before it the Sieur de Coligny the President of Picardy put himself into the place with some few Forces and sent to Montmorancy to come up and succour him This was disapproved by those about him as Dangerous and if things succeeded not Dishonourable In the beginning of the Siege Teligny was slain in a Sally by Engaging imprudently beyond his Orders who was a Person of great Courage and Strength Industry and Fidelity and an Experienc'd Commander And Andelot who was sent by Coligny to bring Two thousand Foot into the Town was by a mistake of his Guides misled and falling into the Trenches of the Besiegers he was slain and most of his Men cut off and Monmorancy attempting to relieve the same place was beaten also and lost Two thousand five hundren Men and himself was taken Prisoner This Battel had a fatal effect upon France for it made the Life of Henry II ever after Unfortunate and reducing France to the necessity of a dishonourable Peace it became the occasion of the Civil Wars which followed to the great hazard of the Ruin of that Potent Kingdom and may serve as an Example to Princes not to violate their Faith whoever dispense with it Montmorancy was from the beginning a verse to this War and foretold the ill Consequences of it as he was an old experienc'd wise Commander and a great Lover of his Country so till then he had lived in great Power and enjoyed the Favour of his Prince but now when his good Fortune left him he lost the good Esteem and Regards of all Men which from thence forward were conferred upon the Duke of Guize who employ'd them to the damage of France The News of this Victory fill'd France with Terror and Sorrow and the Netherlands with Joy and Courage The Duke of Nevers and some others of the principal French Commanders however escaped If the Victorious Army had forthwith marched to Paris they migh have taken it but King Philip was resolved to hazard nothing but commanded his Army to go on with the Siege of St. Quintin and the King of France leaving Compeigne where he then was and going to Paris so quieted the Minds of the People by his Presence and good Words that things began to settle and the fear in a short time to abate Coligny kept the Townsmen of St. Quintin two days in Ignorance of this Loss and when they came to hear of it though he saw the Town would at last be taken yet he persuaded them to hold it out to the last that so the King might have time to recollect his
the mean time Mary Queen of England dyed which occasioned a great Change in England France and Scotland The greatest part of the Scots were not pleased with this Marriage and the French too underhand disliked it as tending to the exalting the House of Guise and the depressing that of Montmorency and Gasper de Coligny Admiral of France who were both at this time Prisoners to King Philip. A meeting in the mean time being appointed at Perone between Christierna the Mother of the Cardinal of Lorraine and Perrenot Bishop of Arras for King Philip and the Duke and Cardinal of Loraine for the French Perrenot deploring the progress of the Turkish Arms during this unfortunate War and above all things the increase of Heresie in France and the Netherlands cunningly offered the House of Guise their Assistance for the ruining Montmorency Coligny and Andelot as favourors of the Reformation when a Peace were once setled between these two Crowns The House of Guise hereby only seeking to aggrandize it self upon the Ruine of these three great Men and the Spaniards to imbroil and weaken France The Cardinal at his return acquaints the King with what concerned Andelot intermixing a mention of a Peace with it Henry II was a mild and most merciful Prince but had an implacable aversion for the Reformation which had been instilled into him in his Infancy by those who had the Care of him and he had before this heard something of Andâ—lot's Inclinations to favour that Party and thereupon sent for him who waited upon the King at Monceaux a Castle near Meaux The King gave him great assurance of his kindness to him and of his Sense of his Merits and Services and then told him He was much concerned to hear from all Places That he was not sound in the business of Religion and thereupon asked him what his Belief of the Sacrifice of the Mass was Aidelot who was a Man of Spirit answered otherwise than the King desired and according to Calvin's Doctrin The King admonished him That he should consider himself and not run into Mischief He replied with more confidence than he had shewn before That it was a great Satisfaction to him that the King whom he and his Family had found a Bountiful Master and to whom he had in all things hitherto shewn himself a most Loyal Faithful and Industrious Subject had so far approved of him But then he was not to play the Hypocrite with God in the business of Religion his Body his Estate and his Honour were in the Hands of the King and he might dispose of them as he thought fit but his Soul was subject to none but God who gave it and therefore in this matter he must obey God only as his greatest Master This Answer so inraged the King that taking his Lance in his hand and intending only to throw it on the ground he wounded the Dauphin with it who sate beneath him and the Tables being taken away he ordered Andelot to be taken into Custody who was for some time detained in the House of the Bishop of Meaux and from thence he was sent to the Castle of Melun Andelot being thus laid aside the Baron de Monluc a Person of good Merit was made General of the French Foot in his stead which was a Place of great consideration in the Army This Lord had been educated in the Court of the Duke of Lorain and was much addicted to the Interest of that Family Yet as he saith in his Memoirs he refused this Employment at first because he foresaw it would expose him to a flagrant Envy and the Resentments of the Family of Montmorancy In the beginning of May the French sat down before Thionville with about Five thousand Horse and Fourteen thousand Foot. This Town is seated in the Dukedom of Luxemburg in a Plain Country but Low and Marshy and having the Moselle on the N. W. which fills its deep Ditches on which sides it has only two Bastions which are short so that they cannot clear their Dikes and at a great distance from each other The rest of the City is secured by great Towers which extend themselves beyond the Walls and they again are within well fill'd with Earth Quaderebbe a Brabentiner was Governor of this Place who had a Garrison under him of One thousand nine hundred Foot and Two hundred Horse The chief Battery lay on that side which is covered by the Moselle This place after a sharp defence was taken upon good Articles the Twenty third of July But then Strozzi an excellent Commander and a Man of great Courage and Prudence was lost before it who was accounted one of the best Captains of that Age. Four thousand Townsmen and Fifteen hundred Soldiers marched out of this place when it was yielded up most of the latter being wounded on the Head. The French lost Four hundred and had more wounded in this Siege After this they took Arlone another Town in the same Dukedom three German Miles from Luxemburg to the West by Surprize which being burnt by an unexpected Accident was dismantled and deserted Their next Design was against Luxemburg but here they spent seventeen days to no purpose It had been order'd by the Council That at the same time the Duke of Guise invaded the Dukedom of Luxemburg Thermes who was Governor of Calais should enter Flanders and that the Duke of Guise should second him with some German Forces and that his Brother the Duke of Aumale should joyn also with him at Faire en Vermandois If their Orders had been as well pursued as they weye prudently contrived the Affairs of King Philip had been brought into great distress Thermes went from Calais in the beginning of July with Five thousand Gasconers and Germans and Fifteen hundred Horse passing by Graveling and coming suddenly before Dunkirk and while he was treating with the Inhabitants taking advantage of their Negligence he Surprized the place and having Plundered the Town he put a Garrison into it after which he took Vinoxberg without resistance though it was a Rich and a Populous Town which he treated in the same manner but then being seized by the Gout his usual Disease he committed his Forces to the Sieur Villebonne a Man too much addicted to Spoil and Rapine who wasted all the Country with Fire and Sword as far as Newport King Philip in the Interim had sent the Duke of Savoy to Liege with Orders to assemble Forces near Maleburg to oppose the Duke of Guise but when he saw Thionville and Arlonne lost and the Duke of Guise lye still he took the opportunity to Surprize these Frenchmen before any Succors were come up to them to which end he sent Count Egmont an Industrious Captain to whose diligence the Victory of St. Quintin was very much owing he coming to Graveling which lyes between Dunkirk and Calais and from the several Spanish Garrisons got together Twelve thousand Foot and Three
Holy Tribunal and here he shewed a very great severity bringing not only Men suspected of Heresie but of some other Crimes within their Jurisdiction Then commanding all Monks and Nuns to their several Houses he Imprison'd some and sent others to the Gallies for not presently obeying him His Rigour was so great in this last that many left his State and went and setled in the State of Venice He spent Fifty thousand Crowns in Corn to relieve the Poor in a time of Scarcity and setled Bishops at Malacha and Cochin two Cities belonging to the Portuguese in the East-Indies and made the Bishop of Goa an Archbishop exempting him from the Jurisdiction of the Bishoprick of Lisbon He also erected many new Sees in the Low-Countries at the request of Philip King of Spain to the Diminution of the Jurisdiction and Diocesses of many French and German Bishops These Sees were setled at Mechlen Antwerp Harlem Daventrie Leewarden Groningen Midleburg Bosleduc Namur St. Omers Ipress Gant and Bruges and were put under the Archbishops of Cambray Mechlin and Vtrecht This change gave great offence to the Low-Countries who esteem'd itrather an Inslaving than an Honouring of their Country to have so many New Sees setled among them and the more because among other Reasons assigned by the Pope one was That these Countries were on all sides encompass'd with Nations which had cast off the See of Rome so that the Salvation of the Souls of this People was much endanger'd by Schism which rendred this Settlement hateful to all those who favour'd the Reformation so that this was one of the principal Causes of the War which followed which in the end proved fatal to many of these New Bishopricks In the interim this Consideration had that effect upon the Spirit of King Philip that it greatly disposed him above all others to enter into a Treaty of Peace with France He saw that not only the Licence which attended a War but the vast number of Germans which he was forced to employ by their conversing with his Subjects in the Netherlands begat in them a good Opinion of Luther and the Reformation Henry II of France imprudently communicated to William of Nassaw Prince of Orange when he was Embassador for Philip in France when they were one day Hunting together That King Philip and he had agreed first to extirpate all the Sects which were then rising in the Netherlands and after that they would joyn their Arms and do the like in all other places which being discovered by that Prince to the Netherlanders they entred into Consultation for the preserving themselves from the Pride of the Spanish Government and made those insolent Demands of King Philp when he was going into Spain This Counsel was then generally attributed to the Cardinal of Lorain and Perrenot Bishop of Arras and all concluded That under the pretence of suppressing Heresie King Philip and Henry of France had laid a Design of Ruining the Civil Liberties of France and the Netherlands When the Commissioners met for the concluding the Treaty of Peace between these Princes they found themselves delivered from one difficulty the Restitution of Calais by the Death of Queen Mary of England but then Thionville Verdun and Toul three Imperial Cities had been taken in this War by the French and King Philip thought he was bound in Honour and by his Interest too to see them restored to the Empire and yet he saw the French were as well resolved to keep them Nor was indeed his Interest in the Restitution so great as that of the French was to keep them he having very effectually provided for his own Security and Benefit by the gaining other Places Hereupon these Princes by mutual consent sent Embassadors to the Dyet of Germany began this Year the Twenty fifth of February at Ausburg The first thing that was done in them was the celebrating the Funeral of Charles V with great Solemnity His Encomium was pronounced by Lewis Madruse then Bishop of Trent the afterwards a Cardinal After this Ceremony an Account was given of the Conference at Wormes for the Reconciling the Differences of Religion and there appearing no hope of an Accommdation Ferdinand the Emperor promised he would take care to have the General Council renewed and that all should obey its Decrees and Determinations But the Deputies of the Duke of Saxony and of several other Princes of the Empire opposed this affriming that there being no hopes of restoring the Peace of the Church by a Popish Council the Edicts of Passaw and Ansburg were religiously to be observed But the Emperor persisting in his former Opinion they said they were not against a Free and General Council in Germany so be it were legally assembled by the Emperor and not by the Pope and in which the Pope should appear as a Party subject to the Council and not as President and Judge of all others and provided the Bishops and Clergy might be freed from the Oath they had taken to the Pope that they might freely speak their Thoughts That the sacred Scriptures might be the only Rule by which they should judge and determin these Controversies rejecting all humane Traditions and Customs that were contrary to the Word of God If the Divines who had embraced the Augustane Confession might not only be heard but admitted to give their votes in the Decision of these Controversies and have good Security given them for their going thither and that they should enjoy the Liberty granted them by the Decree of Ausburg without any fraud or violence That the Points in Dispute should not be determin'd as is usual in Civil Affairs by the plurality of Votes but by the Rule and Prescription of the Word of God That in the first place the Decrees of the Council of Trent already made should be cancell'd as vitious and not legally assembled and that these things should be debated a new And lastly That if these things could not be obtain'd of the Pope the Emperor should maintain the Peace of Religion and the Edict of Passaw These were the Conditions the Protestants proposed for the holding of a Council The Emperor who despaired of reconciling the differences of Religion on these Terms and having no other way left him for preserving the Peace of Germany Confirm'd the Peace of Passaw After this they took into Consideration the Reduction of the Monies of Germany to their ancient value and purity and heard the Complaints of William of Furstemberg Great Master of the Knights of Livonia who obtain'd a Grant of an Hundred thousand Crowns for the Levying of an Army for their Protection against the Russ But this Sum seeming less than the necessity of their Affaris and of the Times required the Livonians neglected it and betook themselves to the Protection of Sigismund Augustus King of Poland to whom they assign'd Nine of their strongest Places upon condition that they might at any time redeem them by
Robert Boet Eustace Bellay lately a Member of the Court of Parliament but then Bishop of Paris and Anthony de Nouchy to try the Members of Parliament which had been imprisoned Du Bouâ—g being interrogated by Saint Andre refused to answer None of the Members of that Court being to be Tryed but by the whole Court. Whereupon Bourdin obtained a new Commission from the King commanding Du Bourg to plead before these Delegated Judges and if he refused that they should take him for Convicted and Guilty of Treason He being thus deprived of his Priviledge lest he might seem to despise the King's Authority and making a Protestation to save the Priviledge of others the third Day after answered in such manner to all the Questions proposed that he seemed to differ very little from the Lutherans and Calvinists so without any other Witnesses produced he was by the Bishop of Paris declared an Heretick judged unworthy of the Sacerdotal Character and delivered up to the Secular Power From which Sentence he Appealed to the Archbishop of Sens. Whilst these miserable Men were thus persecuted for their Religion and their Favourers Friends and such as had presumed to speak freely were by Informers also brought in Question there was a sad Face of Affairs in France and a sullen silence The Court in the interim was never more Jolly the Preparations for a great Marriage filling it with Mirth and Bravery which in a short time too had as lamentable a Conclusion Among other things there was a Tilt prepared and a Yard made for that purpose not far from the Bastile in which the Members of the Parliament were then imprisoned Some Days being spent in this Divertisement June 29. the King would needs run against the Count of Mongomery and they breaking their Lances the Sight of the King's Helmet by accident flying up he received a Wound in the Eye and falling from his Horse was latched by some of his Servants and carried into a Tower belonging to the Bastile It is said whilst they carried him thither he looked up and remembring the Members of Parliament which he had committed there said He feared he had done wrong to those Innocent Men. The Cardinal of Lorrain who was present angry at it reply'd That Thought was put into his Mind by the Devil the Enemy of Mankind That he ought to be careful of his Motions and continue constant in his Faith. Whether this were so or no I will not affirm saith Thuanus my Author because I am resolved to write nothing without good Authority The Physicians saying too That in these kinds of Wounds the Speech is lost At the Report of this Accident Andrew Vesale a Famous Physician was presently sent from Brussels by King Philip that he might however shew his Good-will to this Prince But he came too late the King dying July 2. when he had lived forty Years three Months and eleven Days and reigned twelve Years and three Months The Marriage between Margaret his Sister and Philbert Duke of Savoy was hereupon hasted that it might be finished before his Death and Celebrated it was without any Pomp or Magnificence There was great variety of Opinions some extolling his Life beyond Reason as Martial and Brave and his Conquests by which he had enlarged his Kingdom adding to it a great part of Italy Scotland and Corsica That having obtained a Victory against Charles V at Renty he had reduced that Great Prince to the Thoughts of a Retreat to a Private Life That out of his rare Respect to the Church of Rome not regarding his Oath he had renewed the War and succoured Paul IV. That recalling his Army out of Italy he had been able to defend France against the united Forces of King Philip and Mary of England and at last had ended the War at least by an useful Treaty and by the Marriages of his Daughter and Sister had secured the Publick Peace Others said he had violated the Glory of his Just Arms by breaking the Truce and involved himself by the Fault of others in an unjust and unprosperous War spent vast Treasures and lost the Flower of his Kingdom That the Peace was Desirable but very Dishonourable and the Marriage only a Covering for the infamy of the Concessions And that as he delighted too much in War so he perished dishonourably like a common Soldier His Misses who reigned rather than he his Prodigality and Luxury were not forgotten And the abundance of Poets then in France was taken for an Instance of the Corruptions of the Times To speak freely without Love or Hatred he was a Warlike Prince and too little affected to the Arts of Peace but then he was soft and easie and governed too much by others Wise Men then thought there would follow a War his Children being very yong his Wife Ambitious and the Court divided by Faction And this accordingly came to pass and brought forty Years of great Calamity upon France But I shall for the future be very short in the French Affairs referring the Reader to Davila and other Writers of the Civil Wars of France The Reader may be pleased to know That I have in all this followed Thuanus abridging him in some Places and in others transcribing him at large The King being crowned and the Dominion of the Queen Dowager as Guardian and of the Guises as Prime Ministers established to the great Dissatisfaction of the Princes and Nobility of France the next Care was to carry on the Persecution against the Protestants Oliver the Chancellor was imployed against the Members of the Parliament which were imprisoned at the time of the King's Death and S. Andre and Anthony de Mouchy against the rest of the People who that they might spread the terror of their Names over the whole Nation thought fit to begin with Paris Their principal Blood-hounds were Russanges and Claude David two Mechanicks and one George Renard a Taylor who had all three professed the Reformed Religion and were now imployed as best acquainted with these Men. They drew in two Apprentices shortly after who had deserted their Masters And these to gain the greater Applause confessed not only that they had Nocturnal Meeting but which saith Thuanus was a notorious Lie that they at them used promiscuous Conjunctions after the Candles were put out And this Impudent Story created a great Detestation of the Protestants in the Minds of the deluded Catholicks whose Ears were open to these kinds of Misrepresentations This lye was carried on with great Industry and these two Wretches were led first to the Cardinal of Lorrain and then to the Queen to communicate this rare Secret no Man daring to contradict it The Queen who was never a Friend to the Protestants from henceforth was more than ever enraged against them But Oliver the Chancellor suspecting the Story examined these Lads separately and by their Varying and Contradicting each other found it to be a mere Lye. But
setting forth That since the Marriage of their Queen to the Dauphine of France the Government of Scotland had been chaâ—â—ed the French Soldiers laid all waste The principal Employments were given to Frenchmen their Forts and Castles put into their Hands and their Money adulterated to their Advantage That the Design was apparently to possess themselves of Scotland if the Queen should happen to die without Issue Cecil who was the Queens Prime Minister imployed Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland to find out what the Lords of the Articles designed and what Means they had to attain their Ends and upon what Terms they expected Succours from England They said They desired nothing but the Glory of Jesus Christ the sincere Preaching of the Word of God the extirpation of Superstition and Idolatry the Restraint of the Fury of Persecution and the Preservation of their ancient Liberties That they knew not for the present how to effect this but they hoped the Divine Goodness which had begun the Work would bring it to its desired End with the Confusion of their Enemies That they earnestly desired to enter into a Friendship with the Queen of England to the Preservation of which they would Sacrifice their Lives and Fortunes The Consideration of these things was not warmly entertained in England be cause the Scots had little Money and were not over-well cemented among themselves so they were only advised Not to enter rashly into a War. But as soon as the English knew that the Marquess of Elboeuf the Queen of Scots Unkle was listing Men in Germany by the Rhinegrave for a War in Scotland That Cannons were sent to the Ports and Preparations amde to conquer that Kingdom and that in greater Quantities than seemed necessary to reduce a few unarmed Scots That the French to draw the Danes into this War had proffered That the Duke of Lorrain should renounce his Right to Denmark And that they were renewing their Solicitations with the Pope To give a declaratory Sentence for the Queen of Scot against the Queen of England Thereupon Sir Ralph Sadler a wise Man was sent to the Earl of Northumberland and Governour of the middle Marches on the Borders of Scotland to assist him and Sir James Croft Governour of Berwick The English Council could not see whither all this tended unless the French designed to invade the Kingdom of England as well as assume the Title and Arms of it Upon this the Council of England began to consider in good earnest and with great Application of the Scotch Affairs it was thought a thing of very ill and dangerous Example that one Prince should undertake the Protection of the Subjects of another Prince who were in Rebellion But then it was thought impious not to assist those of the same Religion when persecuted for it And it was certainly a great Folly to suffer the French the sworn Enemies of England when they challenged the Kingdom of England too and were at Peace with all the rest of the World to continue armed in Scotland which lay so near and convenient for the Invasion of England on that side which had the greatest number of Roman Catholicks both of the Nobility and Commons This was thought a betraying the Safety and Quiet of the whole Nation in a very cowardly manner And therefore it was concluded It was no Time now for lazy Counsels but that it was best to take up their Arms and as the English Custom was To prevent their Enemies and not stay till they should begin with us It was always as lawful to Prevent an Enemy as to repel him and to defend our selves the same way that others Attack us That England could never be Safe but when it was Armed and Potent and that nothing could contribute more to this End than the securing it against Scotland That in order to this the Protestants of Scotland were to be protected and the French Forces driven out of it and this was not to be done by Consultations but by Arms. That the neglect of these Methods had not long since lost Calais to our great Hindrance and Shame That a little before whilst the French pretended to preserve the Peace with great Fidelity they had surprized the Fort of Ambleteul and some other Places near Bologne and by that means forced the English to surrender that important Place That we must expect the same Fate would attend Berwick and the other Fronteer Garrisons if they did not forthwith take Arms and not rely any longer on the French Pretences of maintaining the Peace which were never to be believed their Counsels being secret their Ambition boundless and their Revenues immense so that it was then a Proverb in England France can neither be Poor nor Quiet three Years together And Queen Elizabeth was used to say that Expression of Valentinean the Emperour was good Francum amicum habe at non vicinum Let a Frank be thy Friend but not thy Neighbour So that upon the whole it was concluded That it was Just Honest Necessary and our Interest to drive the French as soon as was possible out of Scotland Hereupon William Winter Master-Gunner in the Fleet was sent with a Fleet to Edinburgh Frith who to the great terror of the French fell upon their Ships of War on that Coast and their Garrison in the Isle of Inchkeith The Duke of Norfolk then Lieutenant of the North was also sent towards Scotland William Lord Grey who had well defended Guines against the French tho' unsuccessfully was made Governour of the Eastern and Middle Marches and Thomas Earl of Sussex who had been Lieutenant of Ireland in the Reign of Queen Mary was sent thither again with the same Character and commanded to have a particular care the French did not excite the barbarous and superstitious Irish to a Rebellion under the Pretence of Religion The French in the interim were not idle but the Regent reproach'd the Lords of the Congregation so the Protestants were call'd in a Proclamation that they had brought Englishmen frequently into their Houses that came with Messages unto them and returned Answers back to England though they made no Answer to them because they did not think it convenient either to deny it or openly to Avow it for the present and the King of France and Queen Mary wrote each a distinct Letter to the Lord James Stewart threatning him with Punishment as his wickedness deserved and by Word of Mouth let him know That he would rather lose the Crown of France than not be revenged on the Seditious Tumults raised in Scotland And one Octavian a French Captain landed soon after with a French Regiment great Sums of Mony and Ammunition of War and was forthwith sent back by the Regent for one hundred Horse and four Ships of War and in the mean time she fell to Fortifie Isith or Leith expelling all the former Inhabitants and making it a Colony of French only it being a Sea-Port-Town
last interrupted by the Commotions of Germany In order to this the 19 th of November 1559. he Published a Bull for the recalling this Council to Trent at the Feast of Easter of this Year vehemently Exhorting all Patriarchs Archbishops Bishops and Abbats and all others who had the Right or Privilege to Sit and Vote in a General Council by common right or any Privilege or Ancient Custom that at that Day they would be present in the said Council He also Admonished the Emperor Elect and all other Christian Kings and Princes that if they could not be personally present they should send their Ambassadors thither affirming beforehand that he designed nothing by this Council but the Glory of God the Reduction and Salvation of the scattered Sheep and the lasting Peace of Christendom There was soon after a sharp Invective Printed at Ausburg by Paulus Vergerius Bishop of Cabo di Istria in Friule who was a Cardinal and had been imployed by several of the preceding Popes in great Ambassies and had lately left that Church and betaken himself to the Protestans of Germany In it he set forth the Pride Pomp Luxury Ambition Bribery and corrupt Manners of the Court of Rome which he vow'd he well knew and from his heart detested That the Council was not call'd by the Pope to establish the Doctrine of Christ but those Human Inventions which they had brought in contrary to the Commandments of God not to Purge God's fold but to disseminate their inveterate Errors not to restore Christian Liberty but to introduce a misrable Servitude and Oppression on the Souls of Men none but the Bishops and Abbats who should take an Oath prescribed by the Roman Ceremonial Lib. 1. c. III. § XIV being permitted to sit there That all the inferior Clergy and secular Princes had only a right to come be instructed but not to deliberate or vote by which it must needs come to pass that not only all those who had separated from that Church on the account of her gross Errors would not be heard which was promised at first by Paul III. but that also many of the most Skilful and most Learned Doctors of that Church would be excluded from giving any Vote and all Liberty in which only there was any hope of restoring the Peace of the Church would be taken away and a Door opened to let in a Schism which would never have an end The Pope perceiving that this Complaint would irritate the Minds of the German Princes for whose sake the Council was first Indicated sent Ambassadors to them Zachariah Delfino Bishop of Faro and John Francis Comendon Bishop of Zant being by his order directed to all the Princes with Letters of Credence They went first to Ferdinand the Emperor who was then at Vienna from thence they went by his Advice to meet all the Princes of the Augustane Confession who were then Assembled at Naumberg upon the River Saole in Saxony whom they were to treat very gently and modestly studying to avoid whatever might give occasion of Exasperation or Offence by the Counsel of this great and excellent Prince he telling them this was the easiest way to do their Business and to get a Positive Answer He also reminded them of the Conditions upon which the Protestant Princes had in the last Dyet declared they would consent to the Council of Trent That if they hap'ned to be mentioned the Ambassadors might not be destitute of an Answer He also sent Three Ambassadors of his own with them 1. Otho Count of Eberstin 2. Felix Bogislaus Baron of Hassenstein And 3. Christopher Meela Vice-Chamberlain of Bohemia These being admitted the day after their Arrival at Naumburg into the Assembly of the Princes exhorted them to be present in the Council to be shortly holden at Trent that an end might so be put to the lamentable Differences of Religion and the Calamities of Germany When they had deliberated on the Proposal they return'd this Answer That they were very Thankful to the Emperour for his Care of and Love to the Empire As to the Council they did not refuse a Free General and truly Christian Council in which not the Pope but the Word of God should sit as Judge the Oath of the Bishops being discharged and a Liberty allowed to those of the Augustane Confession to Vote But on the contrary they perceived the Pope pretended to continue the Council of Trent and only to allow those Bishops to Vote who were Sworn to him against which they had already Protested in many Dyets of the Empire They concluded with a Promise of a more partiticular Answer when they had consulted the Princes assembled at Newburg they having as yet no Instructions concerning this Point from them or their Deputies And in the mean time they prayed the Emperour that he would preserve inviolably the League of Passaw and the Peace of Religion After this both the Pope's Legates were heard one after another who said very much in Commendation of Pius IV. his great Care of Religion and good Affection towards them That to this end he had recall'd the Council to Trent for the Extirpation of Heresie and Sects in which he promised all things should be transacted with Christian Charity and Brotherly Affection and all should be fully and sweetly heard and Determinations made and Suffrages given with the utmost freedom and liberty Therefore they exhorted them to send Ambassadors with Plenary Instructions and lend their Assistance to the bringing so commendable a Design to its desired end which was the restoring Peace to Christendom They delivered also the Pope's Letters to the several and respective Protestant Princes which being Superscribed with the word Son were all return'd Seal'd to the Legates The last day of the Meeting the Electors and other Princes in the Morning return'd an Answer to the Pope's Legates That they did not acknowledge the Popels Jurisdiction nor think themselves bound to give him any account what they intended in the Business of the Council the Calling and holding of which belonged not to him but they had fully declared their Minds to Ferdinand the Emperour their gracious Lord. That as for them the Legates they esteemed them for their Noble Birth and great Learning and should have shewn them greater respects if they had not come on the Pope's Errand Being thus dismissed they went to Lubeck and sent to Frederick King of Denmark for leave to come to him but had for an Answer That neither he nor his Father had never had any Business with the Pope nor did he desire now to know their Errand And Martinego who was sent to Queen Elizabeth of England was forbidden to come over To give the Reader a certain and clear knowledge of this Meeting at Naumburg The 13th of January Fredcrick the Elector Palatine Augustus Duke of Saxony and Elector Jo. Frederick of Saxony Wolfang of the Palatine Family Ernest and Philip Dukes of Brunswick
Ulrick Duke of Meckleburg Christopher Duke of Wirtemburg Charles Marquis of Baden Ernest Prince of Henneberg and the Ambassadors of Joachim Duke and Elector of Brandenburg and of John and George Fredirick of that Family of Philip Landtgrave of Hesse and of Barnim and Jo. Frederick Dukes of Pomerania upon the report of a Council suddenly to be assembled met at Naumburg to which Place the King of Denmark and the Princes of Lunenburg sent only Letters of Friendship to assure those that met that they would stand by them The design of it was to put an end to those Controversies which had arisen amongst the Protestants themselves to renew their Subscriptions to the Augustane Confession to consider and by mutual Consent to resolve whether they should go to the Council or refuse it They had great Controversies amongst themselves about the various Editions of the Augustane Confession which had been explained enlarged and as to the Expressions very often changed and the Elector of Saxony was for the retaining the first Edition and putting the Smalcaldick Articles by way of Preface to it but the rest not consenting to it he left Naumburg and return'd When they came to consider the Council of Trent they were no less divided in that too Some were for an absolute rejection of it others were for the fending Ambassadors from the several States who should propose the giving an Account of their Faith in a free and truly Christian Synod and enter a great Complaint against the Pope and Court of Rome make their Exceptions to the Council on the account of the Suspition of the Judges the perverse Method or Order of Proceedings and the Inconvenience of the Place this they conceived would â—itigate the Envy had been raised against them and shew that their Enemies and not they were the obstructers of Concord and Union After this they sent Deputies to the Duke of Saxony deploring his departure before the End of the Conference and giving him an Account of the Form of Confession they had Agreed to Subscribe and desiring him that he would also subscribe it or at least restrain his Divines from traducing and defaming it as they had before done by some things agreed at Frankford Soon after Augustus Duke of Saxony Married Anne Daughter of Morice of the Family of Nassaw and Brother to William Prince of Orange Jerolamus Martinego who was sent to Treat with Queen Elizabeth for the same end as I have said already came into Flanders and from thence according to the ancient Custom sent for Leave to come into England but was denied it the Council of England not thinking it fit to admit a Nuncio from the Pope when there Religion would be apt upon such an Encouragement to Imbroil our Affairs upon began to Treat with Throcomorton our Ambassador in that Court That Queen Elizabeth would be pleased to send her Ambassadours to the Council in which he was seconded by Letters from the Kings of France Spain and Portugal and the Cardinal of Portugal and the Duke de Alva To which she replied That from her Heart she desired a General Council but she would have nothing to do with a Papal That she would have nothing to do with the Pope neither whose Authority was banished out of England by the consent of the Three Estates That it belonged not to him but to the Emperour to call a Council and that she acknowledged no greater Authority in him than in any other Bishop The Twenty fifth of July Erirk King of Sweden was Crown'd with great Pomp at Stockholme upon the Baltick Sea. Charles Cardinal of Caraffa and Nephew of the last Pope was strangled the Sixth of March in the Castle of St. Angelo upon pretence That he had Exasperated Paul IV. his Uncle with his false Stories and put him upon a War That he had caused the Truce between France and Spain to be broken had entered underhand Treaties with the Protestant Princes of Germany and also with the Turk the Enemies of Christianity but in reality because the Pope was much offended with the sharp Answers the Cardinal made after he was imprison'd The Pope being thereupon made sensible that the Cardinal was a Person of great Spirit and Interest and if ever he were dismiss'd he would at one time or other Revenge the Quarrel upon the Popes Relations so that his Holiness contrary to his first Intentions found it was needful to cut him off though against Law as his own Canonists generally said The Count de Paliani Brother of the Cardinal of Caraffa had the same fate but on other pretences In France all that desired the Peace of the Church and the Reformation of Religion concluded the Pope would not hold a Council whatever he pretended and therefore urged the having of a National Council which was opposed by the Guises and their Faction for fear the Protestant Party should prevail in it against the Catholick They did whatever they could to perswade the King and Council from it and procured the Pope to perswade Philip King of Spain to interest himself in it who sent Anthony Bishop of Toledo to perswade the Queen to send the French Clergy to the Council of Trent and that in the mean time to prevent a Schism the thoughts of a National Council should be laid aside He had Orders also as occasion offered to threaten those who favoured the Protestants and to give assurances of his Masters readiness to support the young King which was ill taken in France as a kind of usurping a Right to interpose their Spanish Pride in the French Affairs Toledo died in France and Maurice his Successor became very importunate with the Queen to begin a Persecution against the Protestants which was as stiffly opposed by the King of Navar who demanded his Kingdom and interrupted all the Spanish Proceedings by his frequent Complaints to the young King. King Philip finding to his Cost that this Princes Power was greater in France than he imagin'd began a Design upon him to make him more pliant to his Desires This was to reject his Wife and Marry Mary Queen of the Scots and then declaring himself Head of the Catholicks in France the King of Spain was to give him Sardinia for Navar and to help him to Conquer England and so two Heretical Queens were for Heresie to be laid aside and the Pope was to Consecrate and Bless the Business The King of Navar detesting the Project of Repudiating his Queen the Exchange of Sardinia was driven on with more eagerness pretending it was the greatest Island in the Mediterranean Sea next Sicily and the most fruitful rich and populous and situate very conveniently for a Conquest of Barbary This Project being also seconded by the Popes Nuncio the Cardinal of Ferrara prevented the calling of a National Council which Wise Men thought was the only thing that could have prevented the Civil War which after broke out to the almost total Ruine of France
Though the Edict of July had forbidden all Meetings of the Protestants yet their Number daily increasing and with it their Confidence not only Sermons were openly made but the Priests were in many places forcibly expell'd and the Churches seized for the use of the Ministers which gave being to the Edict of the 3d of November for the Restitution of those Churches upon pain of Death which by the Perswasion of the Ministers themselves was obeyed throughout the Kingdom But when notwithstanding Men seem'd rather enraged than appeased by the Edict of July and the Conference of Poissy was broken up without any effect there being every day news brought of new Commotions they began to think of some more effectual Remedy which that it might meet with the greater approbation and by consequence be the more universally executed the Presidents and some chosen Members of all the Parliaments of France were summon'd before the King to St. Germain by whose Advice it was to be drawn and Moddel'd Upon which the Cardinal of Lorrain and the Duke of Guise left the Court conceiving the thing would do it self now Montmorancy and the King of Navar had espoused that Interest About the same time there was a dreadful Tumult at Dijon whil'st the Protestants were assembled at their Sermon the Rabble thought fit to make themselves the Executioners of the Edict of July and having procured a Drum to beat before them they marched against the Huguenots but the Meeters made use of their Weapons and repell'd Force with Force The Rabble thereupon turn'd their fury against the Private Families and plundered several Houses There were also some Tumults at Paris on the same score and towards the end of the year all things tended to a general Revolution Having thus represented the State of Religion in all the rest of Christendom as shortly and as well as I can I return now to Scotland The Messengers they had sent into France to procure the Royal Consent to the Acts they had made in their last Parliament were no sooner return'd with a positive denial and a dreadful Reprimand which frighted and exasperated the Nation both at once but they had the Joyful News of the Death of King Francis II. to their great satisfaction and the no less affliction of the French Faction in that Kingdom On the other side the Nobility who had lent their Assistance to the Expulsion of the French immediately met at Edinburg and after a Consultation sent the Lord James to their Queen to perswade her to return into Scotland Lesley however prevented them and got to her some days before the Lord James She was then at Vitrie in Campaigne whither she was retired to lament her Loss His business was to bespeak her favour to the Catholick Party and return into Scotland The first she readily promised and as for the other she ordered him to Attend till she had resolved what to do It was soon after resolved that she should leave France so that the Lord James found her fixed to return when he came into France yet his Assuring her of the great desires the Nobility of Scotland had to see her there again much confirm'd her So she sent him back with Orders to see that nothing should be attempted contrary to the Treaty of Leith in her absence In March following M. Giles Noailles a Senator of Bourdeaux arrived at Leith with three Demands from the new King of France 1. That the old League between France and Scotland should be renewed 2. That the late Confederacy with England should be dissâ—lved 3. That the Church-men should be restored to all they had been deprived of But the Council replied That it did not befit them to treat of things of that Consequence before the Assembly of the States which was to be held the 21st of May when the Lord James made answer That the French and not the Scots had broke the old League by endeavouring to enslave them 2. That they could not violate the Treaty made with England and as to the third That they did not acknowledge those he interceded for to be Church men and that Scotland having renounced the Pope would no longer maintain his Priests and Vassals About the same time the Earls of Morton and Glencarn returned from England whither they had been sent with Assurances That the Queen would assist them in the Defence of the Liberties of the Kingdom if at any time they stood in need of her Help which was heard with much Joy. As the Lord James returned into Scotland he waited upon Queen Elizabeth and advised her to stop Queen Mary if she came by England as he expected she would 'till he had secured the State of Religion in Scotland for tho' she had promised She would continue all things in the State she found them ye he would not intirely rely upon her Promise having so often heard the old Maxim from the late Regent To make sure work therefore he procured an Act to be passed in this Convention for the Demolishing all the Cloysters and Abby Churches which were yet left standing in that Kingdom the Execution whereof as to the Western Parts was committed to the Earls of Arran Argile and Glencarn as to the North to the Lord James and as to the Inland Counties to some Barons that were thought the most Zealous Whereupon ensued a most deplorable Devastation of Churches and Church-buildings saith Spotiswood throughout all the Kingdom for every one made bold to put to their Hands the meaner sort imitating the Example of the greater and those who were in Authority No difference was made but all the Churches were either defaced or pulled down to the ground The Church Place and what ever Men could make Money of as Timber Lead and Bells were put to sale and the Monuments of the Dead the Registers of the Churches and Libraries were burn'd or destroyed and what escaped the Fury of the first Tumults now perished in a common Shipwrack and that under the colour of publick Authority John Knox is said to have very much promoted this Calamity by a Maxim he published That the sure way tâ— drive away the Rooks was to pull down their Nests which in probability he meant only of the Monks but now their Hands were in was extended to all the Church Buildings Noailles was then in Scotland and carried the News of this dreadful Reformation to the Queen into France She was much enraged at it and said to some of her Confidents that she would imitate Mary Queen of England but however she had wit enough to dissemble her Resentment for the present In order to her return she left Vitri and went to Paris and having waited upon the King and Queen-Regent to take her leave of them she took her Journy towards Calais Queen Elizabeth had sent the Earl of Bedford to condole the Death of Francis her late Husband and to desire her Ratification of the Treaty of
he was resolved to treat France without any favour In order to this the Pope puts out a Bull dated the 7th of April by which he grants power to the Cardinals appointed Inquisitors General for all Christendom to proceed smartly and extrajudicially as shall seem convenient to them against all and singular the Hereticks and their Abettors and Receivers and those who are suspected to be such abiding in the Provinces and places in which the filth of the Lutheran Heresie hath prevailed and to which it is notorious there is not a safe and free entrance tho' the said persons are adorn'd with the Episcopal Archiepiscopal Patriarchal Dignity or Cardinalate without any other proof to be made of the safety or freedom of the Access But so that Information be first made and that they be cited by an Edict by them to be affixed to the Doors of the Palace of the Holy Inquisition c. admonishing and requiring them to appear personally and not by their Proctors before the said Inquisition within a certain and limited time as the said Inquisition shall think fit upon pain of Excommunication denounced Suspension and other lawful pains And if they shall not so appear they shall be proceeded against in the secret Consistory and a sentence decreed against them tho' absent as convict and confirm'd with a clause of Derogation Tho' this Bull was contrary to all Laws yet the Inquisitors presumed upon it to cite some Bishops of France and with them Odet de Coligni Cardinal de Chustillon who had embraced the Opinions of the Protestants and was now call'd Count de Beauvais he having been formerly Bishop of that City St. Roman Archbishop d'Aix John Monluck Bishop of Valence Jean Anthony Caracciolo Son of the Prince de Melphe Jean Brabanson Bishop of Pamiez Charles Guillart Bishop of Chartres And as if this had been intended but for a step to her the Princess Joan Labrett Queen of Navarr Relict of Anthony late King of Navarr All which I say by a Bull dated the 28th of September and affixed at Rome were cited to appear before the Inquisition within six Months and the Queen was told That if she did not she should be deprived of her Royal Dignity Kingdom or Principality and Dominions as one convicted and the same should be pronounced to belong to whosoever should invade it The King and Queen of France and all the Nobility were extremely exasperated with these proceedings of the Pope and the Bull being read in the Council of State D'Oisel the then Ordinary Ambassador in the Court of Rome was ordered to acquaint the Pope That the King could scarce give any credit to the first reports which were spread in several Pamphlets in France till the Citation which was fixed up in several places in Rome was read to him at which he was much troubled because the Queen of Navarr was in Majesty and Dignity equal to any other Prince in Christendom and had from them the Title of Sister 2. That the danger which threatned her was of ill example and might in time be extended to any of them and therefore they were all bound to assist and defend her in this common cause and the more because she was a Widow 3. But the King of France above all other because nearly related to her and her late Husband who was one of the principal Princes of the Blood Royal and had lost his Life in his service in the last War against the Protestants leaving his Children Orphans the Eldest of which was now in the King's Court and under his care That the King could not neglect the cause of this sorrowful Widow and her Orphan and Children who appeal'd to his fidelity and the Memory of his Ancestors who had in all times of affliction succoured the Princes of Germany Spain and England That Philip the Bold the Son of St. Lewis had with a potent Army defended an Orphan-Queen of Navarr and brought her into France where she was after Married to Philip the Fair from whom Joan the present Queen of Navarr was lineally descended And that John Labrett the Grandfather of this Queen being in like manner persecuted by one of the Popes and driven out of a part of his Kingdom the rest had been defended and preserved by Lewis the Twelfth and his Successors That the Popes themselves have heretofore fled to the French for protection when they have been expelled out of their Sees who had often restored them defended and enriched them with the grant of many Territories That this Queen was so near a Neighbour and such an Allie to the Crown of France that no War could be made upon her without the great damage of France That all Princes were Interested in the Friendship and Peace of their Neighbours and obliged to keep all Wars at a distance from them for the preservation of their own quiet and security Since therefore his Majesty saw by this Bull that there was a design to deprive his Ancient Allies of their Dominions and at pleasure to set up others in their stead he had just reason to fear that as the Spaniards had heretofore on such pretences possess'd themselves of all the Countries to the Pyrenaean Hills so that in time they might pass them too and descend into the Plains of France and so a dismal and destructive War might be rekindled between these powerful Princes to the great hazard and ruin of Christendom Lastly the Queen of Navarr being a Feuditary of the Crown of France and having great Possessions in that Kingdom was under the Protection of the Laws of it and could not be drawn out of it to Rome either in Person or by Proxy no Subject of France being bound to go to Rome but if the Pope had any cause against them he was obliged to send Judges to determine upon the place even in those Cases that came before him by Appeal That therefore this Citation was against the Majesty Law and Security of the Crown of France and tended to the diminishing of the esteem of that King and Kingdom That if the Form of this Proceeding were considered what could be more contrary to the Civil Law than to force a man out of his proper Court and condemn him in another without any hearing For there are Laws That no accused person shall be cited out of the Limits of the Jurisdiction in which he lives and that the Citation shall not be obscure and perfunctory but declared to the proper person or to his family And the Constitution of Pope Boniface the Eighth That Citations set up in certain places of Rome should be of force was recall'd by Clement the Fifth and the Council of Venna as hard and unjust or at least mitigated and it was decreed that they should not be used but when there was no safe coming to the person accused But in France where the Queen of Navarr resides it cannot be pretended that there is no safe coming to
all the Priests were hunted away and in Cherie and Cuni places belonging to the Duke of Savoy and in many other Cities near unto them many were of the same opinions with the Hugonots and many even in the Duke's Court also did profess them and more were discovered every day And however the Duke had set forth a Proclamation a Month before That all that followed those opinions should within eight days depart out of the Country and some did thereupon depart yet afterwards he commanded there should be no proceedings against them and pardon'd many who were condemn'd by the Inquisition and made their Process void as also those who were in the Inquisition and not condemn'd and gave leave to some that were departed to return About the same time there hapned a great tumult and popular commotion in Bavaria because the Cup was not allowed nor Married men suffered to preach which disorder proceeded so far that to appease them the Duke promised in the Diet That if in all the Month of June a resolution were not made in the Council of Trent or by the Pope to give them satisfaction he himself would grant both the one and the other The news of this coming to the Council the Legates dispatched Nicholas Ormonet to perswade the Luke not to make that Grant. To whom the Duke replied That to shew his obedience to the Apostolick See he would use all means to entertain his people as long as he could expecting and hoping that the Council would resolve that which they saw to be necessary notwithstanding the Resolution made before by it But the Council had good reason to deny this last because say they it is plain that Married Priests will turn their affections and love to their Wives and Children and by consequence to their House and Country and so that strict dependance which the Clergy hath on the Apostolick See would cease and to grant Marriage to Priest would destroy the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy and make the Pope to be a Bishop of Rome only And in another place they tell us that having House Wife and Children they the Clergy will not depend on the Pope but on their Prince and their love to their Children will make them yield to any prejudice of the Church and they will seek to make the Benefices Hereditary and so in a short space the Authority of the Apostolick See will be coâ—fined within Rome Before Single Life was instituted the See of Rome received no profit from other Nations and Cities and by it is made Patron of many Benefices of which the Marriage of the Clergy would quickly deprive her And that all would become Hereticks if the Cup were granted to the Laity and so a gap would be opened to demand the Abrogation of all positive Ecclesiastical Constitutions by which only the Prerogative given by Christ to the Church of Rome is preserved for by those which are of Divine appointment no profit doth arise but that which is spiritual So that the Princes who expected any redress from them were in a fine case Camden in his History of Queen Elizabeth assures us the true reason why the Prince of Conde clapt up this Peace upon such easie and disadvantageous terms was because he had been deluded by the Queen with the vain hopes of succeeding his Brother the King of Navarr as General of all the Forces of France and that he should marry the Queen of Scotland too which he afterwards refused The English were then possess'd of Havre de Grace and had a Garrison in it and now both the Protestants and the Roman Catholicks united their Forces to deprive them of it without repaying any of the Money the Queen had expended in the War or considering what need they might after have of that Princess's protection and assistance Both parties on the contrary protest That if the English do not forthwith restore that place they should forfeit their Right to Calais which was reserved to them by the Treaty of Cambray and when this would not do they proclaimed a War against the English in France the 7th of July which was return'd them by the English till they should restore Calais The Earl of Warwick who was then Governour of Havre de Grace finding the French well disposed to betray the English in that Town into the hands of their Country-men and that they had entered into a Conspiracy to that purpose with the Rhinegrave who lay not far off with some German Forces He thereupon turn'd all the French both Protestants and Papists out of the Town without any difference and seized upon all their Ships The French thereupon without ever reflecting on their own Conspiracy against the English began a loud complaint That the English came not to protect the French in their distresses but to get the possession of the Town dealing with them not as with Brethren but as Foreigners And hereupon the French resolved to take this place upon any terms from the English and the King sent a Trumpet to the Governour to demand the Town who returned for an Answer That if the King of Spain would pass his word that Calais should be restored according to the Treaty of Cambray at the time by it appointed and that the King of France the Queen-Mother and the Princes of the Blood Royal would confirm the same by their Oaths and Register it in all the Parliaments of France and then give them Hostages of the Prime Nobility of France he would then deliver up the Town This being rejected the 22d of July Montmorency the Constable took the field all things being by that time prepared to reduce it by force The next day they summon'd the Town again Warwick replied he would suffer death rather than deliver up the place without the Queen's knowledge His Messenger whom he sent with this Answer happened to meet one Monie a Protestant French Captain with whom he had been familiarly acquainted in the Siege of Roan to whom he said He much wondred to see the Protestants of France who were of the same Religion with the English and for whose relief they came into France in the Camp against them Le Monie replied As you fight for your Queen so we for our King the contest is now for our Country and Religion is no way concern'd The business of Religion is now determin'd and setled by the King's Edict once for all and therefore you Sir are not to wonder if of Friends we are suddenly become your Enemies and resolved to destroy you if you do not deliver up the place to the King. When the Earl of Warwick heard this he sent presently into England for Supplies There was then a Plague in the Town which discouraged the English more than all their Enemies without There came some Ships with Relief from England but the Plague continuing the Queen to preserve so many brave men gave order to the Earl of Warwick to surrender the place upon
Beneventum the Pope's Legate at Venice 475. Writes in defence of Sodomy 477. Prince Casimir of Brandenburg raises Troops upon Charles the Fifth's Election for his Service 18. Catharinus Ambrosius writes in defence of the Pope's Supremacy against Luther 40. Catharine of Austria Wife to Henry the Eight dies 202. Catharine de Medicis Married to Henry the second of France 168. Chabot Brian Philip Admiral of France Condemned 272. Restored 277. Chamber Imperial Delegates appointed to Reform it 161. They Prosecute the Protestants with Vigour 184. They Proscribe Minden 245. Vide Imperial Chamber in I. Charles the Fourth Emperor made the Golden Bull An. 1356. 19. Charles Duke of Bourbon besieges Marseilles 76. Takes Rome 109. Blocks up the Pope in the Castle of St. Angelo Ibid. His Soldiers commit great Insolencies Ibid. Dies 110. Is attainted by the French King Ibid. Charles the Great made Emperor at Rome 150. Charles King of Spain Competitor for the Empire 13. His Answer to Prince Palatine 18. His Genealogy 19. The Conditions which were imposed upon him as his Election 20. Goes into England 25. Thence into the Low-Countries ibid. Summons the Electors to Aix la Chapelle 36. Meets them there 37. Enters the Town in state ibid. The Ceremonies of his Coronation ibid. His Oath ibid. Goes to Cologne and calls a Diet to Worms 38. Promises Luther a publick hearing at the Diet 41. Writes to Luther and gives him safe Conduct 42. Writes to the Princes against Luther 44. Proscribes him 48 49. Makes War with Francis I 50. And takes Milain ibid. Returns into Spain 51. Goes into England by the way and makes a League with Henry VIII ibid. Answers the Complaints exhibited by the free Cities against the Diet at Nuremberg 66. Complains to the Diet that the Decree of Worms was not observed 73. Chides the States and Princes for attempting to call a General Council 75. Takes King Francis Prisoner at Pavia 79. Desires that a Diet may be called at Ausburg 96. Treats a Peace with Francis 102. The Articles of Peace ibid. Writes to the Diet at Spire that the Decree at Worms should be kept 103. Marries the King of Portugal's Daughter 105. Answers Pope Clement's angry Letter 106. His Letter to the College of Cardinals 107. He answers the Confederates Proposals 109. He leaves off publick Sports when he understood that Rome was taken 109. Accuses the French King of Breach of Faith 112. Answers the French King's Challenge 115. Calls a Synod to be held at Spire ibid. Answers the Protestant Ambassadors at Piacenza 124. Confines the Protestant Ambassadors to their Lodgings 125. Calls a Diet at Augsbourg 126. Is Crowned at Rome by the Pope ibid. Makes his Entry into Augsbourg 127. Makes a Speech to the Princes of the Diet ibid. Consents at last that the Augustane Confession should be read to him 129. His Speech to the Princes 133. He threatens the Protestant Prince 134. Debates with them about a Decree 135. As also with the Deputies of particular Cities 138. Denies the Liberty which the Protestants demanded 139. Rescinds Albert of Brandenburg's Transactions with the King of Poland ibid. Calls the Electors together to choose a K. of the Romans at Cologne 142. His Reasons for choosing a King of the Romans 143. He commands the Protestants to acknowledge Ferdinand King of the Romans 148. He gives them notice of a Turkish Invasion ibid. Calls a Diet at Spire 152. Removes it to Ratisbon 155. And confirms a Peace there to all Protestants 160. Sollicites for aid against the Turks to little purpose 161. Goes to Italy 162. Writes into Germany to obey Ferdinand ibid. His Ambassador goes with the Pope's Legate to the D. of Saxony ibid. His Ambassador's Speech to the Duke 163. Stands to the determination of Ferdinand concerning the D. of Wirtemberg 174. Goes into Africa 180. Takes Goletta ibid. Restores Muley Hazem to the Kingdom of Tunis ibid. Encourages the Prosecutions of the Imperial Chamber 184. His Speech against the French King 204. Writes to the Protestants in Germany 208. Is unsuccessful in france ibid. Sends Eldo his Ambassador to Smalcald to treat with the Protestants 212. Makes a Truce with the King of France 232. Meets Francis at Aigues Mortes 239. Accommodates with the Protestants at Francfort 248. Goes through France into Flanders 252. His Answer to the Protestants Ambassadors 255. He punishes the City of Ghent for its Insurrection 262. He writes to the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave about a Peace 263. Deniels the D. of Cleve's Petition 266. Confirms the Decree at Haguenaw 269. Invites the Protestants to meet at Wormes ibid. He dissolves the Conference at Wormes 272. Appoints Persons to conferr at Ratisbon 276. His Exhortations to them ibid. Referrs Religious Matters to a Council 282. He makes a Private Grant to the Protestants 283. Complains of the D. of Cleve ibid. Sails into Africk 285. Loses his Fleet by a Storm ibid. Writes to the Senate at Metz to allow no Change in Religion 298. His Manifesto against the French King to the Pope 300. His Answer to the Cardinals of the Mediation who were sent by the Pope 303. His Soldiers waste Juliers and take Duren ibid. Writes to the Protestants from Genoa 311. Has an Interview with the Pope 312. Refuses to Confirm Parma and Piacenza to the Pope's Son ibid. Delivers Leghorn and the Castle of Florence to Cosmo Medicis ibid. Makes his Son King of Spain ibid. Makes a League with the K. of England ibid. Answers the Protestants Ambassadors from Smalcald ibid. Refuses to make up the Business with the D. of Cleve 313. He threatens the Hildesheymers ibid. Writers to the Senate of Cologne ibid. Goes to Bonne 314. Make a prosperous War upon the Duke of Cleve 315. Restores him upon his Submission ibid. Sends to the City of Metz to renounce the Reform'd Religion 316. Goes into Guelderland 317. Makes the French yield at Landrecy ibid. Answers the Saxons and Landgrave's Letter ibid. Opens the Diet of Spire with a Speech ibid. Waves the Controversie between the D. of Brunswick and the Confederate Protestants 319. His Expedition into France 326. Makes a Pacification with the French King 327. Makes Severe Edicts against the Lutherans in the Netherlands 342. Comes to Wormes 348. His Embassadors to the K. of Poland ibid. Endeavours a Treaty of Peace with the Protestants 349. Makes a Truce with the Turk 351. Takes the Clergy of Cologne into his Protection ibid. Cites the Archbishop of Cologne ibid. Writes to the Doctors of the Conference at Ratisbon 359. Answers the Protestant Ambassadors about the Elector of Cologne 360. He goes to Spire on his way to Ratisbon 367. Treats with the Landgrave and the Elector Palatine there 368. Comes to Ratisbon 374. Opens the Diet ibid. Sends the Cardinal of Trent to Rome to sollicite for assistance 375. Makes Preparation for War ibid. Answers the Protestant Deputies 376. Writes to the Protestant Free Cities ibid. Writes to the Duke of Wirtemberg 377. He sends
give in their Opinion of it 547. Cheregatus Franciscus Legate to P. Adrian at Nuremberg 57. Cities of the Empire complain against the Diet at Normiberg 65. and in the Diet of Spire against the Decree of Wormes 103. They complain against Mendicant Friars 104. Immunities of the Clergy Ibid. And against Holy daies Ibid. Cities for the Reformed Religion Protest against the Decree of Spire 120. Are for acknowledging Ferdinand King of the Romans 151. Some Cities quarrel at the Taxes laid at Coblentz to carry on the War at Munster 198. Catholick Cities complain that they are Excluded from the Princes Councils at Ratisbon 282. Some Cities refuse at Spire to grant subsidies against the French 326. They refuse to submit to the Council of Trent at Augsbourg 440. Clareback Adolph Burnt at Cologne for Religion 121. Clement the V. inserts into the Canon-Law that Emperors are Subject to the Pope 38. Clement the VII succedes to Adrian 66. Sends Cardinal Campegio to the Diet at Nuremberg Ibid. Writes to D. Frederick of Saxony Ibid. Sends a Golden Rose to Henry the VIII of England 75. Writes to the Parliament of Paris 97. Enters into a League with Charles the V. 105. Writes expostulatory Letters to him 106. Writes to the King of Poland to be ready to send Deputies to a General Council 142. Sends a Legate to the Duke of Saxony 162. His Legate's Speech to the Duke of Saxony Ibid. Goes to Marseilles to meet Francis 168. Marries his Neice Catharine de Medicis to his Son Henry Ibid. Dies 174. Cleve Duke of Cleve sues to the Emperor for Guelderland 266. His Treaty with the French King 277. Marries the Queen of Navarre's Daughter Ibid. Retakes Duren 304. A Pacification Attempted between him and the Emperor 307. Submits to the Emperor 315. Renounces his League with France and demands his Wife 316. Intercedes with the Arch-Bishop of Cologne to lay down his Bishoprick 418. Coblentz a Town in the Bishoprick of Triers upon the Confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle 13. Some Princes meet there to quiet the Stirs of Munster 197. Cologne Vniversity Condemns Luther's Writing 27. Condemn and burn Reuchlin's Book 30. The Elector of Cologne Herman calls a Provincial Council 209. Endeavours a Reformation 310. Confers with Bucer Ibid. Oppos'd by the Clergy 311. Who Publish their Anti-Didagma Ibid. And oppose Bucer Ibid. The Bishop Mediates for the Duke of Cleve 313. The Clergy plead against their Arch-Bishop 340. They appeal to the Pope and Emperor Ibid. The Arch-Bishop Answers their appeal Ibid. They Subscribe the Appeal 341. The Arch-Bishop is cited by the Emperor and the Pope 351. Answers to his Citation to the Emperor 352. Appeals to a Council 411. The Arch-Bishop is deposed by the Pope 417. He is Perswaded to resign his Bishoprick 418. Vide Adolph Count Schauwenbourg Herman the Old Bishop dies 573. Conclave The Ceremonies there practised in the choosing of Popes 489. Confederate Princes against Charles the V. propose conditions to him 109. Vide Maurice Consecrations of all Sorts Bells Churches Altars c. 481 482. Constance Council decreed a Pope subject to a Council 9. That safe Conducts should be Null to declared Hereticks 47. That the Laity should Communicate in one Kind Ibid. The Bishop of Constance Hugh opposes Zuinglius 51. Sends a Book about Images to the Senate at Zurich 72. They abolish Popery 112. They send Deputies with humble Submission to the Emperor 469. Their Bishop dies of an Apoplexy Ibid. They repulse the Spaniards who would seize the Town 470. Vpon their being proscribed they desire the Switzers to intercede for them 471. They surrender intirely to the House of Austria 474. The Conditions upon which K. Ferdinand receives them ibid. Contarini Card. the Pope's Legate at Ratisbon his Opinion at the Diet 279. His Exhortation to the Bishops 280. His Speech is communicated to the States ibid. He gives in other Papers to the Diet 281. Protests by Letter against a National Council 282. Accused to the Pope and dies 299. Cosimo succeeds Alexander de Medicis in the Dutchy of Florence 210. Marries Eleanor Daughter to the Viceroy of Naples ibid. Cosmus vide Cosimo Coyre Bishop of Coyre recalled by the Grisons from the Council of Trent 529. Cranmer Tho. A. B. of Canterbury calls Bucer and Fagius into England 479. Vindicates himself from the aspersions of the Papists 590. Is sent to the Tower ibid. Burnt at Oxford ibid. Crescentio Cardinal the Pope's Legate at the Council of Trent 518. Dies at Verona 548. Falls sick with seeing an Apparition of a Black Dog ibid. Cronberg Walter Grand Master of the Teutonick Order 99. Sollicites Char. V. for aid against Albert the late Grand Master 139. VVhich was granted ibid. The Emperor in the Diet of Ratisbon ratifies Cronberg's Title 161. Cusanus Nicolaus Cardinal vide Sigismund D DEcius Philip writes for the Council of Pisa 27. Denmark vide Christiern K. of Denmark sent no aid to the Protestants 415. His Ambassador intercedes for the Landgrave 534. Deux-Ponts vide Wolfgang D. of Deux-Ponts Diazi John goes to the Conference at Ratisbon 365. Is earnestly perswaded by Malvenda to turn Papist 366. And by his Brother Alfonso Diazi ibid. Goes to Newbourg ibid. Is Assassinated there 367. The Ruffians fled to Inspruck ibid. Ditlebius Valentine his Letter to Frederick 33. Doria Andrew a Genoese Char. V's Admiral restores Liberty to his Country 416. His Kinsman Joannin Doria is killed in an Insurrection ibid. Dragut a Pirate forced from Tripoly by Char. V. flies to Constantinople 500. E EBleben Christopher Negotiates a Peace for the Landgrave 430. Dies for Grief that the Conditions were so treachersouly kept 434. Eckius John Writes against Luther 3. Disputes with him at Leipzick 21. Maintains the Pope's Supremacy against him 22. Exasperates the Quarrel 24. 34. Disputes at Baden with Oecolampadius 105. Disputes with Leonard Caesar 110. Answers the Augustan Confession 130. Answers the Confession of the Confederate Cities 139. Is rewarded for his zeal in oppugning Heresie Ibid. Is displeased with the Book which was presented to the Diet at Ratisbon 278. Writes to the Princes against the Collocutors 282. Eckius a Lawyer draws up Luther's charge at Wormes 42. Questions him if he will defend his Books Ibid. Replies to Luther's Plea 44. Commands him to leave Wormes 46. Edward VI. of England born 232. Succeeds his Father 418. Beats the Scots by the D. of Somerset 440. Establishes the Reformation in England 443. Publishes a Declaration about the War in Scotland 454. The Mass is abolished in England 463. The Admiral the D. of Somerset's Brother is Beheaded for Treason 479. Troubles in his Reign 485. Concludes a Treaty of Peace with France 492. And a Peace concluded 495. Bologne Restored to the French ibid. He dies 585. Egmont Charles Count dies 240. Eldo Mathias Vice-Chancellor to Char. V. sent Ambassador to the German Princes 212. His Speech to them at Smalcald 213. His Reply ex Tempore to their Answer 218. He sollicites
several Towns for the Protestants 388. Routed by Duke Maurice 504. Taken into the service of Duke Maurice Assists the Magdeburghers 514. Henry the VII Emperor refuses to pay Allegiance to the Pope 38. Henry the VIII Writes against Luther 50. Is called defender of the Faith Ibid. Is Pensioner to Charles the V. 51. His Daughter Mary is Betrothed to Charles Ibid. Writes to the Princes of the House of Saxony against Luther 65. Receives a Golden Rose from the Pope 75. Writes a Scornful answer to Luther's Letter 101. Makes a League with France in the absence of King Francis 102. Makes a League with Francis against Charles 112. His answer to the Protestant Princes of Germany 150. Is dissatisfied about his Marriage with Catharine 169. Sues to be Divorced Ibid. They are Dilatory at Rome Ibid. He Marries Anne Boleyn 170. Is declared in Parliament head of the Church Ibid. Revokes Peter Pence Ibid. Sends Fox Bishop of Hereford Ambassador to the Protestants at Smalcald 188. His Ambassadors winter at Wittemberg 205. His Letter to the Protestants Ibid. He beheads Anne Boleyn 206. Quells a rising in England 209. His Reasons against the Council of Mantua 231. His Reasons against the Council at Vicenza 250. He enacts in Parliament several things about Religion 251. Marries Anne of Cleve Ibid. His Answer to the Elector of Saxony's Ambassador 255. Beheads romwel Earl of Essex 267. Is divorced from Anne of Cleve Ibid. Marries Catharine Howard Ibid. Burns Papists and Protestants for Religion 269. Beheads Catharine Howard for Adultery 289. Marries Catharine Parr Ibid. Makes a successful War in Scotland 324. He makes an Expedition into France 327. Takes Bologne Ibid. Makes a Treaty of Peace with France 355. Forewarns the Protestants in Germany of their danger 356. Dies 418. Henry of Zutphen suffers for Religion in Germany 75. Henry Duke of Saxony refuses to change his Religion to gain the Dutchy 249. But gains it by George's Death 250. Henry Dauphin of France has a Daughter 382. Henry the II. of France succeeds to Francis the I. 424. Is Crowned 435. The Ceremony of it Ibid. Persecutes the Lutherans severely in France 456. Enters Paris in State 484. Crowns his Queen Ibid. Persecutes the Lutherans Ibid. Makes a League with the Switzers Ibid. Regains several Places from England 485. Publishes another Edict against the Lutherans 492. Sends a Letter to the Pope about his assisting Octavio Farnese 514. He declares War against the Emperor with his reasons 517. Justifies himself from Leagues with the Turk 518. Sends the Abbot of Bellozane to Trent with a Letter to the Council Ibid. He Publishes an Edict against the Pope 521. And another against the Lutherans Ibid. Answers the Emperors Declaration 522. Hinders the Switzers from sending Ambassadors to the Council of Trent 528. He sends Ambassadors to Duke Maurice 529. Makes Peace with the Pope 548. He declares War against the Emperor 553. Calls himself Protector of the Liberties of Germany 554. He takes Toul Verdun Metz 555. Takes an Oath of Allegiance from the People of Metz Ibid. His Treaty with the Strasburghers 557. His answer to the Princes Ambassadors 558. The reasons of his leaving Germany 559. His answer to the Switzers Ibid. He Wastes Luxembourg 563. His Ambassadors Speech at the Treaty of Passaw 564. He Sollicites again by Letters from Aichstadt 567. He brings his Men from Luxembourg back into Artois 571. Is offended with the Pacification at Passaw 572. Writes to the Emperor 576. Sends a Declartion to the States of the Empire 577. Carries on the War in the Low Countries 603. But is beaten in Tuscany in the Sienese War 604. His Letter to the Diet at Francfort Ibid. Takes Casal 613. Carries on the War into Montferrat 617. Hereford vide Fox Herman vide Cologne Hesse vide Philip Landgrave Hildesheym a City in the Dutchy of Brunswick embraces the Protestant Religion 300. they are accused by their Bishop to the Emperor 313. Hogostratus James a Dominican writes against Luther 4. Commissioned by Maximilian to Examine Jewish Books 30. Writes against Reuchlin Ibid. Is cast by the Bishop of Spire Ibid. Appeals to Rome Ibid. Leaves his Cause Ibid. Examines two Augustine Friars at Brussels 63. Holland an Inundation there 137. Hooper John Bishop of Glocester burnt for his Religion 607. Huberine Caspar an Interimist Preaches at Augsbourg 535. Hugh Capet makes himself King of France 150. Huglie John a Protestant burnt for Religion by the Bishop of Constance 105. Hungarians beg for assistance at the Diet of Spire 324. Their Horse join Duke Maurice 409. Husse John Preaches Wiclef's Doctrine 46. Appeals from the Pope to Christ Ibid. Went to the Council of Constance with safe Conduct 47. There burnt Ibid. Hutton Ulricus a Noble Man of Franconia 65. Favours Luther and dies Ibid. I JAmes the V. of Scotland Marries King Francis's Daughter 209. His Queen dies 230. Makes a War with England unsuccessfully 304. Dies Ibid. Jerome Bishop of Brandenbourg 2. Jerome of Prague burnt at the Council of Constance 47. Jerome Bishop of Ascoli summons Luther by P. Leo's Order to appear at Rome 5. Jews compared with Roman Clergy 29. Illyricus Matthias Flaccius Writes against the Adiaphorists 498. Imperial Chamber Vide Protestants is set up again in the Diet at Augsbourg 466. The Judges fly from Spire for fear of the Confederate Princes 557. They answer Marquess Albert's Deputation about the Franconian Bishops 577. They decree in Favour of the Bishops 578. Indulgences Preacht up in Germany 1 2. Confirmed by Pope Clement's Decree in the Extravagants 9. Why granted 273. Indult vide P. Paul the III. P. Innocent the III. Decreed to the Electoral Princes a right of chusing the Emperor 21. His decree de Majoritate Obedientia 107. Inquisition its Original 434. Inquisitors about the Emperor's Edict of Religion in the Netherlands how they proceed 498. Interim drawn up at Augsbourg 454. The heads of it 458. Often Revised and Corrected 459. Sent to Rome ibid. The Electors differ in their Opinion about it ibid. Those who draw it up are rewarded 468. It is disliked on both sides Ibid. Confuted by the Saxon Divines 481. Joachim Elector of Brandenbourg sends an Embassie to the Elector of Saxony 242. Sends Agents to Eysenach 244. Made Geneali ssimo against the Turks 292. He Strikes in with the Papists in the War against the Smalcaldick League 375. Interposes for a Peace 418. With the Landgrave Ibid. Intereedes for Saxony 427. And his Life was spared at his Intercession 428. Intercedes for the Landgrave 429. Remonstrates to the Emperor for him at Hall 433. Calls Bucer to Augsbourg 454. Angry with him for not subscribing the Interim 457. Receives the Interim 461. Acts with Duke Maurice in the Magdeburgick War 505 506. He sends Ambassadors to the Conncil of Trent 526. His Ambassadors with those of D. Maurice Sollicite the Emperor about the Landgrave 531. John XXII P. vide Aquinas John King of Denmark overthrows the Swedes 62. Dying leaves his Son
Accommodation 132. Very much disconsolate 140. Comforted by Luther ibid. Comes to Cologne 310. Defends Bucer 311. His Opinion about Indifferent Things 481. He draws up a Confession of Faith for the Saxon Divines 515. Congratulates John Frederick's safe Return home 574. Sends Letters of Comfort to the Banished Bohemian Preachers 613. Mendoza sent by the Emperor to the Council of Trent 360. Ambassador to Strasbourg 419. His Speech to the Pope about the Council from the Emperor 443. Sends the Pope's Answer to the Emperor 445. Mentz the Seat of the Elector four German miles from Francfort 13. Elector of Mentz vide Albert. The Elector approves the Interim craftily in the Diet 460. Sends the Pope's Indult into the Landgraviate 483. Denies to Register Maurice's Protestation against a Council 499. He leaves Trent 543. He flies from Albert of Brandenbourg 567. He dies 614. Mersburgh Bishops Answer to Luther 33. Milan the Council removed thither from Pisa 27. Miltitz Charles Bedchamber man to Pope Leo vide Wittemberg Miltitz sent by Leo to Frederick against Luther 12. Treats with Luther 23. And the Augustine Friars concerning him ibid. Minden proscribed by the Imperial Chamber 245. Mirandula Joannes Picus his Books Censured 28. Monte Cardinal de the Pope's Legate at Bononia His Answer to the Pope's Letter 444. His Insolent Vsage of Vargas the Emperor's Ambassador at Bononia 446 447. made Pope and called Julius III. 492. Montmorency Anne made Constable of France 239. Is in disgrace 277. Gains Favour with Henry II. King of France Takes Metz for the French King 555. His Treaty with the Deputies of Strasbourg 557. More Sir Thomas Chancellor of England 180. Beheaded for not denying the Pope's Supremacy Ibid. Morin John under-Provost of Paris prosecutes the Protestants severely 175. Morone John Legate to P. Paul III. at Spire 291. Muleasses K. of Tunis outed of his Country comes to Augsbourg 457. Muncer Thomas begins to Preach in Franconia 52. An account of his Enthusiasm 83. Settles at Mulhansen 84. Turns out by the Rabbles help all the Magistrates ibid. Joyns with the Boors of Swabia and Franconia Ibid. Is routed by Count Mansfield Ibid. Retires with his Gang to Franck-hausen Ibid. His Speech to the Rabble 85. His men frighted 86. Routed by the Princes Army Ibid. 5000. of them taken Ibid. Muncer taken at Franck-hausen Ibid. Racked to confess his accomplices Ibid. Beheaded Ibid. Munster a City in Westphalia possessed by the Anabaptists 174. The Senate Estabilsh the Reformed Religion there 191. They make a treaty with the Bishop 192. Banish the Anabaptists Ibid. They are Tumultuous there 193. It is besieged by its Bishop Ibid. Who is assisted by the Neighbouring Princes 194. A great Famine in the City 198. The Princes threaten to send the Force of the Empire upon them 197. Murner Thomas a Franciscan Friar complains to Campegio against the Senate of Strasbourg 73. Musculus Wolfgangus flies from Augsbourg to Bern for not subscribing the Interim 461. N. NAples a sedition there because of the Inquisition 434. Nassaw Count of desires the Elector of Saxony to come to the Diet at Spire 152. Henry of Nassaw Charles V's General in Picardy 208. Unsuccessful there Ibid. William Son to Count Nassaw succeeds the Prince of Orange 327. Naves discourses with Count Solmes about the War designed against the Protestants 357. Speaks to the Landgrave at Spire in the Emperors name 368. Dies 419. Naumbourg the Chapter choose Phlugius for their Bishop 288. Netherlands Reformation gets footing there 341. Northumberland John D. of Marries his Son Guilford Dudley to the Lady Jane Gray 580. Is siezed on at Cambridge 589. And beheaded by Q. Mary Ibid. Nuremberg a Diet convened thither 51. Their Ministers accused to the Popes Legate 62. The Acts of the Diet Published 63. The treaty of Pacification removed hither from Schurnfurt 160. A Peace is there concluded Ibid. A Holy League there drawn up amongst the Popish Princes 245. Another Diet there 298. The decree of that Diet 299. The Netherlands Ambassadors accuse theâ—â— of Cleve in the Diet 306. The Decree of the Diet 307. Their quarrels with Albert of Brandenbourg 561. Vide Albert their Answer to Albert's Remonstrance 599. O OBersteyn Ulrick Count made General of the Army against the Munster mad Men 197. His Soldiers are tumultuous for want of Pay 200. He carries the Town at last 201. Ockham William Condemned by the University of Paris 28. What his Doctrine 29. Oecolampadius John Preaches at Basil 76. He embraces the Doctrine of Zuinglius 97. Disputes at Bern 111. Meets Luther at Marpurg 121. Dies 156. Orleans vide Franciscan Friars D. of Orleans dies 352. Osiander comes to Marpurg to the Conference betwixt Luther and Zuinglius 121. Sets up a new Sect about Justification in Prussia 511. Rails against Melancthon and the Saxon Divines 512. Dies at Coningsberg 575. His Sect in Prussia promise to submit to the Augustane Confession 632. Otho Prince Palatine Embraces the Protestant Religion 300. Recovers his Country and Joyns with the Confederate Princes 556. Oxford a dispute there concerning the Lord's Supper 483. Oxline John a Minister carried by force from his House by the Governour of Turegie 76. This Occasions the Canton of Zurich to remonstrate 77. P. PAlatine George vide Spires Palatine Prince vide Lewis vide Otho Palaeologus John Emperor of Constantinople comes to the Council of Ferrara 10. Pall the excessive charge of it 273. The Ceremony of its consecration 274. Passaw a Treaty there 563. The Princes Mediators there answer Maurice's Grievances 564. And they answer the French Ambassadors Speech 565. They exhort the Emperor to a Peace by Letters 566. They answer the Emperors Letters 568. The heads of the Pacification 572. Paris Doctors of that University appealed against P. Leo for Abrogating the Pragmatick Sanction 10. Censure the Books of Reuchlin 30. And condemn Luther's Books 47. An Account of the Faculty of Divinity at Paris 48. A Young Gentleman of Thoulouse burnt there for Religion 239. They are severe upon the Lutherans 296. The manner of Proceedings upon him 297. Their Divines at Melun draw up Articles against the Reformation 342. The Parliament answers the K. of France's Edict 619. Paul III. Farnese chosen Pope 174. Instructs Vergerius how to stave off a Council 175. Issues out Bulls to call a Council 206. And others to reform the Vices of Rome 209. Prorogues the Council called at Mantua 230. Is Sollicitous to reconcile the Emperor and the King of France 232. Appoints a Committe of Cardinals to Examine the Corruptions of the Church of Rome 233. Nominates Vicenza for the Session of the Council 238. Returns to Rome 241. Prorogues the Council without Limitation 250. Sends his Legate to the Emperor 264. Makes War upon Perugia 266. The Speech of his Legate at the Diet of Spire 291. Allows a Council to be held at Trent 292. Sends Cardinals to mediate between the French K. and the Emperor 303. Commends the Chapter of Cologne in a Letter to
them 313. Writes an Answer to the Letter of the Princes 320. Writes a sharp Letter to the Emperor to chide him for the Decree of Spires 337. Creates several Cardinals 340. Summons the Council once more to Trent Ibid. Endeavours to raise a War against the Lutherans 348. Sends his Legates to Trent 360. Writes to the Swisse Bishops to come to the Council of Trent 374. Excommunicates the Arch-Bishop of Cologne Ibid. Writes to the Switzers to perswade them to joyn against the Protestants 382. He publishes a Bull declaring the causes of the War against the Protestants 388. Makes the Count Schawenbourg Arch-Bishop of Cologne 417. His answer to the Cardinal of Trent and Mendoza 444. His Letter to his Legate at Bononia Ibid. His answer to the Emperors Ambassador 445. And Letter to the German Bishops ibid. His answer to the Emperors Ambassadors to justifie the removal of the Council to Bononia 450. His animadversions upon the Interim 459. Sends Legates into Germany 473. Who bring an Indulgence or Indult of several things 482. He dies 487. Libels come out against him with accounts of his horrid Lusts 488. His Funeral ibid. He instituted the order of the Jesuits 615. Paul IV. Caraffa chosen Pope 615. Pelargus Ambrose Reflects insolently upon the Protestants in the Council of Trent 541. De Pensier à Lutheran Divine recants at Paris 309. Pescara vide d' Avalos Peter Pence what 170. Petro Aloisio P. Paul III's Bastard D. of Parma and Piacenza 438. Is Assassinated at Piacenza 439. His flagitious life Ibid. Phefecorn John a Convert Jew 29. His Petition to Maximilian Ibid. Writes against Reuchlin 30. Phifer a Companion of Muncer's 84. Philip Landgrave of Hesse his Speech to his Soldiers against Muncer 85. His discourse with Muncer 86. Arms for fear of a Confederacy against the Reformed Religion 114. Departs privately from the Diet at Augsbourg 131. Makes a League for six years with the Reformed Switzers 141. Answers the Arbitrators 154. Endeavours to restore Ulric Duke of Wirtemberg 169. And brings it about 173. Writes to acquaint the Emperor with his Proceedings for Duke Ulric 174. Makes his submission to Ferdinand about Ulric's business 179. Commands his Divines to answer the Anabaptistis Books 198. He sends an answer to their mad Proposals Ibid. Goes to the Convention at Eysenach 244. Intercepts the D. of Brunswick's Letter 246. He Writes in his own Vindication to the German Princes 247. Excuses the D. of Wirtemberg to K. Francis by Letter 249. He answers the Emperors Letter about a Pacification 263. Joyns with the Elector of Saxony against the D. of Brunswick 298. Opposes the Duke of Brunswick 353. Submits to an accommodation Ibid. Receives the D. of Brunswick upon surrender 354. Writes to the Emperor concerning him Ibid. Writes again 355. Answers the Emperors Letter Ibid. Writes to Granvel about the War intended against the Protestants 356. Writes to Naves about the same business 358. Goes to Spire to Meet the Emperor 368. Treats with him Ibid. And with Granvel and Naves 370. And with the Emperor again 373. Is courteously dismissed Ibid. Sends notice to Ratisbon of the Emperors Preparations 376. He arms against the Emperor 384. His Forces 388. He sends his Son William to Strasbourg ibid. Refuses to Confer with the Duke of Brunswick ibid. His Men skirmish with the Spaniards 395. His bold advice to set upon the Emperor 397. Comes near the Imperialists with his Army 404. A Skirmish between him and the Prince of Sulmona 407. His Letter to the Mauricians ibid. And to Maurice 408. Is in danger upon the Retreat of the Army 412. Writes to Maurice his Son-in-Law ib. He rejects the Emperor's Proposals 423. He justifies himself from the Reproaches about Surprizing Francfort 426. Is invited to come to Leipzick 429. Articles of Peace are proposed to him 430. Which he accepts 431. Goes to Hall to the Emperor 432. Signs the Articles and submits to the same in Person ibid. Is detained Prisoner 433. Letters are spread abroad in his Name as if he allowed of the Interim 463. Is carried Prisoner into Flanders 473. And sent to Oudenard 474. His Subjects refuse the Interim 477. New Intercessions for him in vain 479. The Ministers in his Country refuse the Pope's Indult 483. He attempts an escape 504. Not succeeding is kept close Prisoner 505. He relieves the Oppressed Ministers Liberally 517. He is set at liberty and stopt again 573. He returns into his own Country 574. He accepts a Mediation in the Difference with the Count of Nassaw about Catzenelbogen 617. Which still keeps in Suspence 620. Has a Meeting with Augustus Elector of Saxony 633. Philip Prince Palatine Governor of Vienna when Solyman besieged it 121. Forces him to raise his Siege Ibid. Philip Son to Charles V. comes through the Netherlands into Italy 477. Is received at Genoa Ibid. And at Milan 478. Goes into Germany Ibid. Enters Brussels 479. Homage is done to him in the Law Countries 485. He marries Queen Mary in England 604. He has Naples and the Kingdom of Jerusalem Ibid. With the Dutchy of Milan resigned to him 605. Goes into Flanders to meet his Father 618. He enters upon the Government of the Netherlands Ibid. Sends Ambassadors into Germany to acquaint them with his New Government 628. Phlugius Julius vide Gropper Chosen by the Chapter of Naumbourg to be their Bishop 288. Is admitted one of the Presidents of the Conference at Ratisbon 359. Assists in drawing up the Interim 454. Phlugius Caspar heads the Bohemian Confederates 423. Is condemned of High Treason 434. Picards a Sect of the Bohemians 53. Picus vide Mirandula Pisa Council there 26. Called by Cardinals Ibid. Reasons of so doing Ibid. Suspends P. Julius 27. Remove to Milan Ibid. P. Pius's Decree concerning appeals 35. He altered his Opinion from what it was at the Council of Basil 36. Excommunicates Sigismund ibid. Poiet William Chancellor of France disgraced 299. Pool Reginald Cardinal sent Nuncio from the Pope to the French King 210. Writes a Book called a Defence of Ecclesiastical Unity ibid. Made Cardinal by P. Paul III. 211. Loses the Popedom on suspicion of Lutheranism 490. Is detained in Germany by the Emperor 594. Returns into England 605. Reconciles the Nation to the See of Rome 606. Writes to the Emperor and King of France to mediate a Peace 615. Popes anciently subject to Emperors 38. Pragmatick Sanction vide Paris Priests the Ceremony of their Degradation 64. Prierias Sylvester writes against Luther 3. He assert◠the Pope to be absolute head of the Church ibid. Replies to Luther 4. Princes of the Empire disagree about the Emperor's Letter against Luther 44. Complain of the Pope's Proceedings in the Affairs of Germany 60. Return an Answer to Adrian's Letter to the Diet ibid. Draw up an account of the Grievances of Germany which they gave to the Pope's Legate 63. Their answer to Campegio's Speech at Nuremberg 68. They write to Charles V. to make haste into Germany 108. They
write again 110. Write from Spire to the Senate at Strasburg 116. Princes of the Reformed Religion Protest against the Decree of Spire 119. Deliberate about a League amongst all Protestants in Germany 122. They answer the Emperors Proposals at Augsbourg 133. Several of the Princes declare upon what Terms they allow a King of the Romans 157. Protestant Princes refuse a league with Francis against the Emperor 187. Those assembled at Coblentz write severly to the Anabaptists at Munster 197. Catholick Princes Opinion at Ratisbon 281. They answer the Legates Letter 283. They Interceed for the D. of Cleve Ibid. Some of them writes to the Pope 320. The Popish Princes separate answer at the Diet at Wormes 344. They write to the Bremers 501. They meet at Noremberg 512. Several Princes send Ambassadors to the Emperor to interceed for the Landgrave's Liberty 533. Others desire the French King to desist from his in roads into Germany 558. A Convention of them meet at Francfort 579. They write to the Emperor about the Peace 616. Protestant Princes vide Princes vide Protestant Protestants the Original of the Name 120. their Ambassadors had audience of Charles at Piacenza 123. They appeal to his Answer 125. They consult of a League at Smalcald ibid. And quarrel about Religion ibid. Break up without a final Resolution ibid. The Protestant Deputies meet at Noremberg 126. Resolve that Religion should be debated at Augsbourg 129. Present a Confession of Faith to the Emperor ibid. Press to have it read ibid. The Protestants defend the Augustane Confession in writing 131. Answer Truchses's Speech 134. They debate with the Emperor about Religion 135. They leave the Diet 137. The Deputies of the Associate Princes demand liberty of Conscience from the Diet at Augsbourg 139. The Protestant Princes write to the Kings of France and England to wipe of those Calumnies which had been thrown upon them 145. They summon all the Protestant Confederates to Smalcald 147. They sollicite the Dane and Northern Princes and Free Cities to join with them ib. Their Answer to the Emperor's Summons 149. the Protestant Princes refuse to acknowledge Ferdinand K. of the Romans 151. They answer the Ambassadors of the Elector of Mentz and the Palatine at Smalcald 153. Both parties of the Protestants have a good understanding about the Lords Supper 159 Their Conditions of Pacification ibid. They give in a full answer 164. Their decrees in order to a Council 167. They give in their Answer to Vergerius's Proposals for a Council 181. They meet at Smalcald ibid. Their answer to the French Ambassador at Smalcald 185. Their answer to the English Ambassador 188. They protest against the Proceedings of the Imperial Chamber which shall be contrary to Charles and Ferdinand's Decrees 189. They draw up Articles of a League with Henry VIII 204. They meet at Francfort 206. And receive several Cities into the League ibid. They break off Correspondence with Henry VIII Ibid. They send Complaints to the Emperor against the Prosecutions of the Imperial Chamber 208. They answer the Emperors Letter 209. They meet at Smalcald 212. Their answer to Eldo the Emperors Ambassador 215. Their rejoynder upon Eldo's reply 221. Their Decrees at Smalcald 226. Their Reasons why they refuse to Meet at Mantua whither P. Paul III. had conven'd them Ibid. They send Reasons of their Actions to K. Francis 230. The Protestant Princes meet at Brunswick 239. Their Answer at Eysenach 244. They call a Convention at Arnstadt 251. They send Ambassadors to the Emperor into Flanders 253. They write to the French King 254. They meet at Smalcald 255. They answer the Ambassadors sent by Granvel to procure a Pacification 257. They answer King Henry's Propositions 262. Make a Decree to interceed with the French King for the Protestants if he would not take it ill Ibid. And resolve to oppose the Proceedings of the Imperial Chamber ibid. Their answer to King Ferdinand's Proposals at Haguenaw 268. Their Answers to the Emperors Proposals 276. They interceed with the French King for the Protestants 277. They address to the Emperor in the Diet 279. Their answer to Contarini's Papers 280. They Petition the Emperor 281. They answer Contarini's Letter against a National Council 283. They absolutely decline the Jurisdiction of the Imperial Chamber 304. They Petition Ferdinand at the Diet of Noremberg 306. They oppose the decree of the Diet 307. They meet at Smalcald 312. Send Ambassadors to the Emperor at Spire ibid. They meet at Francfort 317. They protest against the Duke of Brunswick's voting at the Diet 319. They â—ccuse the Duke of Brunswick publickly in the Diet 322. They persist in their Accusation 323. Their answer to Ferdinand at Wormes 344. Their Petition to him 345. The Protestants meet at Francfort 356. Reports are spread of a War against them ibid. Another meeting at Francfort 357. They send Deputies to interceed for the Elector of Cologne ibid. They are accused of a Conspiracy ibid. They are accused of a Conspiracy ibid. They still urge the business of Cologne 360. The Protestants Deputies meet at Wormes 373. They complain at Ratisbon that Diazi's Murder was unrevenged 374. Their Opinion of the Council of Trent 375. They are apprehensive of War ibid. They demand the reason of the Preparations 376. Their Deputies return home from Ratisbon 380. The first of their Commanders ibid. Their Deputies meet at Ulm 381. They send to the Venetians and Grisons ibid. They send Ambassadors to the Switzers 383. They Petition the Emperor 384. They send Ambassadors to France and England 385. They write to the Marquess of Brandenbourg to disswade him from assisting the Emperor 387. They publish a Manifesto against him Ibid. Their first exploits in the War 388. They write to the D. of Bavaria 392. Their demands of the Switzers 393. They declare War against the Emperor ibid. They dispute what Title to give the Emperor 394. They march â—o Ratisbon ibid. The names of the principal Confederates 395. The Spaniards break into their Camp ibid. Their oversight in not taking the Landgrave's advice 397. Their address to the Bohemians 399. Their Declaration concerning Incendiaries sent out by the Pope ibid. Their answer to the Instrument of Proscription ibid. They raise their Camp from Ingolstadt 403. They write to the reformed Switzers 404. They lose an opportunity of taking the Emperor at Grienghen 407. Their Council of War writes to Maurice 408. They write to several Imperial Cities and Princes to joyn with them ibid. The Confederates Deputies meet at Ulm 409. Answer the Elector of Saxony's demands ibid. They send an Embassy into France and England 411. They are in danger and withdraw their Camp ibid. In the retreat they run a risque 412. They differ from the Catholicks at Augsbourg about the Council of Trent 440. They are Sollicited to submit to the Council ibid. Their Ambassors at Trent insist upon such a safe conduct for their Divines as was granted at the Council of Basil 539.
the Emperor 204. Appointed of the Committee to draw up a Bull for the calling of a Council ibid. His Speech at Wormes 272. Talks with Spira at Padua 475. Turns Protestant 476. Perswades his Diocess of Justinople to joyn with him ibid. Being Persecuted settles in the Valteline 477. And thence removes to Tubing ibid. Writes a Book to disswad the Switzers from sending to the Council of Trent 528. Vey a Lawyer of Baden speaks to Luther from the Commissioners at Wormes 45. Exhorts him to submit his Books to the Emperor and Princes 46. Vienna vide Solyman Visconti Dukes of Milan their Pedigree 203. Ulm receives the Protestant Religion and a Church is constituted there 149. Is reconciled to the Emperor and fined 413. A Diet called thither 428. What was done at it 431. Adjourned to Augsbourg 432. The Government changed by the Emperor 472. Their Divines refuse with great Courage to acknowledge the Doctrine of the Interim ibid. Their Ministers are released 479. Their answer to Albert's Proposals 563. Ulric Duke of Wirtemberg claims his Country 79. Is repulsed by the Schwabian Confederates 80. Is restored into it by the Landgrave of Hesse 173. Engages to be Feudatary to Ferdinand ibid. And recovers his Country entirely 174. He acknowledges himself Feudatary to Ferdinand 180. Is admitted into the Protestant League 206. Excuses himself by Letter to King Francis 249. He with Vpper Germany first takes Arms 380. Writes Supplicatory Letters to the Emperor 413. Is received upon hard Conditions 415. He makes his Submission to the Emperor in Person at Ulm 421. Receives the Interim 462. Dies 502. Vogelsberg Sebastian raises Men in Germany for Henry King of France 434. Is beheaded at Augsbourg for it 456. W. WAradin George Martinhausen Bishop of made a Cardinal 528. Is killed for Commotions in Transylvania 535. Waldenses Persecuted 345. Barbarously Massacred at Merindol 346. Their Opinions 347. Wenceslaus Emperor intercedes for Husse 46. Wiat Sir Thomas rises in Kent upon Queen Mary's Marrying King Philip 594. Is suppressed 596. Executed 598. Wiclef John Preached against the Pope in England 46. His Bones ordered to be Burnt by the Council of Constance 47. William vide Bavaria Winchester Stephen Gardiner Bishop of he writes a Reproachful Book against Bucer 340. Is Imprisoned for Obstinacy 511. Made Lord Chancellor by Queen Mary 589. An account of his Proceedings in the Divorce of Henry VIII ibid. He dies of a Dropsie 627. Wirtemberg vide Ulric and Christopher Wittemberg a City of Saxony upon the Elbe and an Vniversity 2. Connives at Luther ibid. They write to Pope Leo in his behalf 6. And to Miltitz that he might be tried in Germany ibid. And to Frederick in excuse of Luther's proceedings against Cajetan 12. The Vniversity abett the Augustines in not saying Mass 49. Their Reply to Frederick about that Matter 50. Wolfgang made Grand Master of Prussia 324. His Plea at the Diet of Augsbourg about the Teutonic Order 447. Is driven out of his Country 571. Wolfgang D. of Deux-Ponts absolutely refuses the Interim 480. Yet promises to obey the Emperor as far as he could 481. Wolsey dies for Discontent 170. Wormes a Diet called thither 38. It is opened 41. Luther Proscribed by an Edict there 48. A Diet called to punish the Anabaptists 200. Another Diet called there 201. A Convention cited thither 268. The Heads of the Conference at Wormes 271. A Diet there 343. Z. ZIsca John raises a War in Bohemia against Sigismund in revenge of Husse's death 47. Zuinglius Ulricus comes to Zurick 22. Opposes Friar Samson about Indulgences ibid. Disswades the Switzers from serving abroad in the Wars 48. Defends himself against the Bishop of Constance 51. Writes to the Switzers to allow Marriage among their Priests ibid. Disputes with John Faber in the Assembly at Zurick 57. Acquits himself of the Accusation of the States 66. Preaches up the abrogation of Images ibid. Differs with Luther about the Sacrament 97. Would not go to the Conference at Baden 105. Disputes at Bern 111. Disputes with Luther at Marpurg 121. Is killed 156. Zurick vide Zuinglius They refuse to serve abroad at Zuinglius's desire 48. They est ablish the Reformation 57. They Answer the Remonstrance of the other Cantons 70. And the Bishop of Constance's Book abort Images 72. They remove Images 76. They Expostulate with the other Cantens about the seizing of their Ministers 77. The Mass abolished there 82. They stop Provisions from the other Cantons 155. They are routed in Battle 156. And so a second time ibid. And at last conclude a Peace ibid. The Ministers of Zurick answer Gardiner's Book 340. A TABLE TO THE CONTINUATION A. ALbert Marquess of Brandenburg dies 13. Alva's War on the Pope 9. He goes to Rome 11. The Emperor's Ambassadors to the Electoral Princes to carry his Resignation 6. Dr. Woton English Ambassador in France 14. Between France and King Philip at Peronne 19. At Cambray 22. In France 27. To the Diet of Germany 28. The Popes Ambassadors to the Christian Princes and to the Council 49 62. Admitted by the Princes of Germany of the Augustane confession 63. Refused by Queen Elizabeth 64. His Legates to Trent French Ambassadors to the Council of Trent 87. The Ambassador of Spain received 91. Lansac Ambassador for France at Rome 94. The French Ambassadors protest against the Council 95. And go to Venice 96. Andelot Marshal of France loseth the favour of his Prince 19. Suspected to be in the conspiracy of Bloys 43. Sent for Succours into Germany 78. Is in the battle of Dreux 80. Defends Orleans 82. The Archbishop of Toledo suspected of Heresie 48. An Assembly of the great Men of France at Fountainbleau 44. Of the three Estates decreed 46. Opened at Orleans 51. Prorogued 52. Reassembled at Pont Oyse 58. An Assembly of the Delegates of France 68. B BAbotz a Town in Hungary besieged 5. The battle of St. Quintin 15. Of Graveling 20. Of Dreux 80. The Bavarians demand the Cup and the Marriage of their Clergy in a Tumult 97. Bellay Jean Cardinal Dies 50. The Bible sufficient alone to determine the controversies of Religion 60. Books prohibited and why 86. Bona Sfortia Queen of Poland dies Du Bourg Anna a member of the Parliament of Paris offends the King 31. Is Prosecuted 32. Condemned and Executed 34. C CAlais its Form and Strength 17. Siege and taking from the English 18. Profered to the Queen 41. Catharine de Medicis Queen Dowager of France made Regent 33. She preserves Conde and Navar 47. She shews great favour to the Protestants but yet underhand opposed them 56. Suspecteâ—h the Nobility 57. Excuseth the conference of Poissy 60. Dissembles the Rudeness of Laines 61. Solicited to begin a Persecution by the Spaniards 65. She prohibits the worship of Images 69. She puts her self and her Son under the Protection of the Prince of Conde 72. Yet out of fear joyns with the Catholick Lords 72. And betrays Conde 73. She pretends she is at
Elector of Saxony The University of Wittemberg interceeds with Duke Frederick for Luther Pope Leo's Bull for the Indulgences Luther's Appeal from the Pope to a Council 1519. Luther's Letter to Pope Leo. The Emperour Maximilian dies Competitours for the Empire Charles King of Spain and Francis King of France The Speech of the Elector of Mentz about the Election of the Emperour The Speech of the Archbishop of Treves The Vote of Frederick Elector of Saxony Charles of Austria chosen Emperour The Elector's Letter to the Emperour His Answer The French King vexed that Charles should be preferred before him The Genealogy of Charles the Emperour The way of chusing the Emperour The Heads of the Golden Bull. * Or Charter because it was sealed with a Seal of Gold instead of Wax The Conditions prescribed to the Emperour Charles V. Erasmus his Judgment of Luther to the Elector of Saxony He writes also to the Archbishop of Mentz and Cardinal Campegio As also to Luther A Disputation at Leipsick betwixt Luther and Eckius Zuinglius preaches at Zurich 1520. Miltitz treatâ— with Luther Luther writes to the Pope A Description of the Court of Rome Bernard in his Books of Consideration to Eugenius What Eckius gained by his Dispute Luther makes some overtures for a Peace The mischief of Flatterers Luther's Book of Christian Liberty The Emperor's Voyage out of Spain into Germany Luther's Book to Frederick intitled Tessaradecas His Book concerning Confession Another concerning Vows His Opinion concerning the Communion in Both kinds That the Bohemians always receive it so The Dignity of the Lateran Council The Pisane Council It was called by the Cardinals The Reasons why they did it The Pope's Answer to the Cardinals He prohibits all Persons to come to the Council called by the Cardinals and summons another himself An old trick of the Popes He Excommunicates the Cardinals The Cardinals Proceedings against the Pope The Council remov'd from Pisa to Milan Decius writes in Defence of the Cardinals Maximilian leagues with Julius Matthew Langus created a Cardinal in the Lateran Council Pope Julius dies and Leo X succeeds him The End of the Lateran Council The Immortality of the Soul called in Question at Rome Luther's Book condemn'd at Lovain and Cologn His Answer Ockam condemned at Paris A Comparison between the Jews and Roman Clergy The Authority of Aristotle with the Divines of Loâ—vain and Cologn Phefercorne's Judgment concerning the suppressing the Jewish Writings The Opinion of Reuchline His Book burnt Approved of by the Bishop of Spire Condemned at Paris The Censure of the Louvain Divines upon Luther's Writings His Letter to the Emperour To the States of the Empire To the Archbishop of Mentz The Archbishop's Answer Luther's Letter to the Bishop of Mersburgh The Bishop's Answer The Pope's Answer to the Elector The Pope's Bull. The Pope and Cardinals condemn Luther's Doctrin and command his Books to be burnt The Decrees of Pius and Julius concerning Appeals Luther is Excommunicated Luther opposes the Pope's Bull. The Electors come to Aix la Chapelle The Emperour enters the Town iâ— great state The Ceremonies of the Coronation The Emperour's Oath The manner of making Knights A Dyet summoned to meet at Wormes The Popes anciently subject to the Emperours The Emperours swear Allegiance to the Popes Luther's Works burnt He burns the Canon-Law 1521. Duke Frederick obtains from the Emperor that Luther should have a publick Hearing in the Diet of Wormes Luther's Letter to Duke Frederick The Emperour 's safe Conduct to Martin Luther The Bull De coena Domini The Pope Excommunicates the Lutherans Luther goes to Wormes Luther pleads his own Cause before the Emperor and whole Empire But asked time to deliberate first Eckius Interrogates Luther Luther's Harangne to the Emperor and States of the Empire Eckius to Luther Luther's answer to his Demands Eckius's â—eply to Luther Luther's Answer The Emperour's Letter to the Princes And the Princes Disagreement about it A Committee of the States for treating with Luther Vey's Speech to Luther before the Committee Luther's Answer to the Commissioners Luther submits his Works to a General Council Luther returns Home accompanied by a Herald Luther's Letters to the Emperour and States The History of the Council of Constancâ—e Huss condemned for an Hâ—retick first by the Pope And then by the Council He and Jerome of Prague burnt Wickliff's Doctrine condemned and his Body taken up and burnt The Parisian Divines condemn Luther's Books Melanchton and Luther answer the Sâ—rbonists The Switzers make Leagues with the Pope and French King But the Canton of Zurick refused the League The Emperour by a publick Decree Proscribes Luther Luther conveyed out of the way The Augustines of Wittemberg forbear saying of Mass And give Duke Frederick their Reasons for so doing Duke Frederick's Answer about abolishing the Mass The Marriage of the Archduke Frederick King Henry of England writes against Luther The Emperor's War with the French King. Pope Leo dies Adrian succeeds Leo. The Emperor returns to Spain to appease Seditions there 1522. A Diet at Norimberg A League betwixt the Emperor and King of England Mary the King of England's Daughter betrothed to the Emperor The Letter of the Bishop of Constance to the Canons of Zurich Zuinglius writes to the Bishop of Constance And to the Switzers The Custom of some Cantons about Priests Concubines Luther returns to Wittemberg And by Letters aquaints Duke Frederick with the Reasons of it Carolostadius casts Images out of the Churches of Wittemberg The Sect of Muncer and other Enthusiasts Luther's Letter to the Bohemians Three Sects in Bohemia Luther's Book against false Bishops Pope Adrian's Brief to the Elector of Saxony Pope Adrian's Letter to the States of Germany A War betwixt the Archbishop of Treves and Francis Sicking Adrian writes to the Senate of Strasburg A short History of Pope Adrian Adrian being declared Pope writes to the Colledge of Cardinals Adrian goes to Rome The Turk taketh Rhodes 1523. The Assembly of Zurich The Reformation received at Zurich Pope Adrian's Instructions about the restraining of Luther Luther's Interpretation of the Pope's Instructions The Princes Answer to Pope Adrian's Legate Troubles in Denmark Christiern King of Denmark banish'd Frederick Duke of Holstein made King of Denmark King Christiern in a publick Declaration answers the Accusations of the Danes and Swedes The Ministers of Norimberg accused by the Pope's Legate The Grievances of Germany presented to the Legate The Acts of the Dyet of Norimberg published Two Augustine Friers burnt at Brussels Luther's Interpretation of the Decree of Norimberg Vlrick Hutton dies Henry King of England's Letters of Admonition to the Dukes of Saxony George Duke Saxony Answers the King of England Pope Adrian dies Priests Marry at Strasburg 1524. An Assembly of the Switzers at Lucern Cardinal Campegius's Letter to Frederick Duke of Saxony Campegius's Speech to the Princes of the Empire The Princes Answer to the Pope's Legate The Legates Reply The Cantons of Switzerland expostulate
to the Protestants in the Name of the Emperour Their Answer Commissioners chosen for framing a Decree The Tenor of that Decree What the Protestants find fault with in the Decree The Protestants depart from the Dyet A great Inundation at Rome The like in Holland The Draught of the Decree read to the Deputies of the Cities but a Copy of it denied to them Some Cities urge a Council Faber and Eckius well rewarded which occasioned a merry Saying of Erasmus The Agreement of the King of Poland and Marquess Albert of Brandenburg made null The Decree of Ausburg Luther's Book to the Bishops and Prelates Luther comforts dejected Melanchthon Bucer Essaies a Reconciliation betwixt Luther and Zuinglius c. The Landgrave makes a League with Zurich Basil and Strasburg upon account of Religion The Elector of Saxony cited by the Archbishop of Mentz for chusing a King of the Romans The Smalcaldick League among the Protestants The Pope's Complaint to the King of Poland The Protestants Letter to the Emperour about the Election of a King of the Romans The Reasons of creating a King of the Romans 1531. Ferdinand declared King of the Romans The Protestants Letters to the Kings of England and France The Protestants Confession at Anspurg The Protestants Appeal to a free Council Calumny against the Protestants A Convention of the Protestants at Smalcalde News of the Turks Incursions The death of the Archbishop of Trierâ— The Queen of Hungary is made Governess of the Netherlands The Emperor is made Umpire between the Pope and the Duke of Ferrara The King of France his Answer to the Protestants How the French and Germans come to be akin How Charles the Great was saluted Emperor Lewis the Fifth the last of Charle's Race Hugh Capet Invades the Kingdom The King of England's Answer to the Protestants The Opinions of the Cities concerning a King of the Romans The reason why the Switzers are not admitted into the League The Controversie between the Bishop of Bamburg and the Duke of Brandenburg The Elector of Brandenburg's Appeal to a Council A Diet appointed at Spiers Arbitrators for a Peace apply themselves to the Duke of Saxony Upon what Conditions the Duke of Saxony will come to the next Diet. The Elector of Mentz and the Prince Palatine send Embassadors to the Protestants The Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave's Letters to the Arbitrators The Diet appointed to be held at Ratisbon A quarrel among the Switzers Articles of Peace propounded The five Cantons are hindred from Provisions The War breaks out between them Those of Zurich are vanquish'd Zuinglius is slain Those of Zurich again defeated OEcolampadius dies 1532. Conditions of a Pacification laid down by the Arbitrators Or the Law of Charles the Fourth The condition of creating a King of the Romans The form of the Oath which is taken by the Electors according to the Caroline Law. The Princes of Bavaria oppose the Election of King Ferdinand The Arbitrators Answer to the Protestants The Prince of Saxony's Answer to the Arbitrators The Tricks of the Popish Party The Agreement between the Zuinglians and the Lutherans The Protestants lay down their conditions of a Pacification The Emperor upon necessity confirms a Peace to all Germany The number of the Protestants Delegates appointed to reform the Imperial Chamber The King of Denmark taken Prisoner Albert Duke of Prussia proscrib'd An Irruption of the Turks into Austria The Turkish Horse destroy'd The Emperor goes for Italy 1533. The Popes Embassador's Oration to the Duke of Saxony The Emperor 's Embassador's Speech to the Duke The Duke's answer to the Embassador A full and large Answer of the Protestants to the Pope and the Emperor George Duke of Saxony makes Search after the Lutherans Luther publishes a Book to justifie himself An account of the Family of the Medices Clement creates four French Men Cardinals The Lantgrave endeavours the Restitution of Ulrick Duke of Wirtemburg 1534. A great Revolution in England Woolsey dieth with discontent Peter-pence forbidden A Pique between Luther and Erasmus The Imposture of the Franciscaâ—s at Orleans Apparitions frequent in the times of Popery The Lantgrave his Expedition A Pacification between Ferdinand and the Elector of Saxony A Treaty between Ferdinand and the Duke of Wirtemburg Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburg recovereth his Country Christopher Ulrick Duke of Wirtemburg his Son. The Lantgrave his Letter to the Emperor Francis Sforza marrieth Clement the Seventh dies Paul the Third chosen Pope Andrew Grittus Doge of Vinice Lewis Andrew his Son. A Persecution in France 1535. St. Genevefe the Protectress of Paris The French King writes to the Germans The Lantgrave goes to Ferdinand in order to a Reconciliation The Emperor sails into Africk Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More are beheaded The death of Francis Sforza Vergerius meets the Lantgrave at Prague Vergerius gives the Lantgrave a Copy of his Speech The Protestants Answer to Vergerius The French Embassador's Speech at Smalcalde The Judges of the Chamber are troublesome to the Protestants The Protestants disown the Jurisdiction of the Chamber The Elector of Saxony treats with King Ferdinand The Protestants Answer to the French Embassador The French King's opinion concerning the Points in Controversie The English Embassador his Speech to the Protestants The Protestants Answer to the English Embassador The League of Smalcalde renewed Ausburgh receives the reformed Religion Munster a City in Westphalia The Anabaptists and their Doctrin Rotman a Preacher of the reformed Religion The Papists are commanded to prove their Doctrin by the Holy Scriptures They confess their Ignorance John of Leyden a Botcher and Anabaptist Herman Stapred an Anabaptist The Anabaptists are expell'd Munster A Civil War in Munster Petrus Wirtemius John Mathew an Anabaptist orders that all Mens Goods should be common The Prophesies of the Anabaptists John of Leydon proclaimed King of the Anabaptists The Anabaptists Book concerning the Restitution The Anabaptists Supper The Apostles of the Anabaptists A meeting of the Princes at Coblentz The Doctrin of the Anabaptists and their wickedness The Anabaptists Book concerning the Mysteries of the Scripture The King executes one of the Queens himself Luther's opinion concerning the people of Munster A Diet held at Wormes Another Diet at Wormes The King of Munster is carried about for a sight 1536. The King of the Anabaptists is executed War between Denmark and Lubeck A War between the Duke of Savoy and Geneva The French King makes War upon the Duke of Savoy The Family of the Visconti of Millain The Emperor makes a Speech against the French King. The Venetinns make a League with the Emperor Vergerius is sent away to the Emperor The Articles of the League between the King of England and the Protestants The English Embassadors Winter at Wittemburgh The King of England's Letter to the Protestants The Protestants meet at Frankford Anne of Bullein Queen of England is beheaded A Bull of Paul the Third for the Convocation of a Council Ferdinand sends
The States of the Empire treat with Cleve about the Restitution of Guelderland to the Emperor The Supplication of the Nobility of Austria to King Ferdinand for obtaining free Exercise of Religion King Ferdinand's Answer The Austrians renew their Supplications A Quarrel betwixt the Elector of Saxony and Canons of Naumburg about the Bishop 1542. Luther writes against the Bishop A Diet at Spire King Ferdinand's Speech in the Diet. Gropper recommends Bucer to the Arch-bishop of Cologne Who thereupon comes to Cologne The Lady Catharine Howard Queen of England Beheaded King Henry's Sixth Wife The French Ambassador's Speech at Spire The Speech of the Pope's Legate in the Diet of Spire The Catholick Princes and States consent to the Council offered by the Pope at Trent But the Protestants protest against it The French King prepares for War. An Expedition against the Turk under the Conduct of the Elector of Brandenburg A Quarrel betwixt the Elector and Duke Maurice of Saxony Luther's Camp-Sermon His Position condemned by the Pope The Explication of that Position Luther's other Military-Sermon Luther's Prayer against the Fury of the Turks Of the Original of the Turks and of their Kings The Marquess of Pescara accuses the French King. The King purges himself Prayers appointed at Paris for the Success of the War. The calling of the Council of Trent The French King declares War And Longueville and Rossem invade Brabant The French King demands Aid from the Turk against the Emperor The Form of inquiring who are Lutherans Francis de Landre a Preacher at Paris The Articles of Doctrine proposed to him His Answer Two Dominicans Preach the Gospel at Metz And so did William Farell But the Emperor wrote to the Senate to suffer no Change in Religion Locusts in Germany and Italy The Duke of Saxony and Lantgrave make a successful War against the Duke of Brunswick Their Declaration of the Reasons of it The Diet of Nurimberg The Message of the States of the Empire to the Duke of Saxony and Lantgrave Their Answer The Decree of the Diet of Nurimberg Contarini accused of Miscarriages Contarini and Fregoso Cardinals die The Chancellor of France cast into Prison Otho Prince Palatine and the people of Heildesseim embrace the Reformed Religion The Emperours Letter to the Pope about the Council Cardinals Pacificators sent from the Pope to the Emperor and French King. The Emperor's Answer to the Cardinal Pacificators The Country of Juliers wasted by the Imperialists and Duren taken A war betwixt the English and Scots The King of Scots dies The Protestants decline the Imperial Chamber The Duke of Cleve retakes Duren A Sedition at Rochell The French King's Speech to the Seditious Rochellers 1543. The Diet of Nurimberg The Ambassadors of the Netherlands accuse the Duke of Cleve at Nurimberg Granvell's Speech in the Emperor's name at Nurimberg The Protestants Petition The Decree of the Diet of Nurimberg The Protestants oppose this Decree Pacification attempted betwixt the Emperor and the Duke of Cleve A Battle at Zittard The Dukes of Bavaria intercede for the Duke of Brunswick The Bisop of Ausburg dies The French Kings Answer to the Emperor's Letter The Death of Bellay of Langey and his Encomium Landre makes a publick Recantation of all that he had taught and confessed his Error And so does de Pensier Clement Marot The Archbishop of Cologne's Reformation of the Church Bucer Preaches at Bonn. Melancthon Pistorius come to Cologne The Clergy of Cologne oppose the Reformation The Antididagma of the Clergy of Cologne The Divines of Cologne oppose Bucer who is defended by Melancthon The Laws of Duke Maurice of Saxony He founds three publick Schools A Law against those who deflower Virgins Against Adulterers The Emperor's Letters to the Protestants An Interview betwixt the Pope and Emperor Petro Aloisio obtained the Possession of Parma and Piacenza which the Emperor refused to confirm The Emperor delivers up to Cosmo of Medicis the Castles of Florence and Legborn The Marriage of Philip King of Spain The Marriage of the King of Poland An Assembly of the Protestants at Smalcald A League betwixt the Emperor King of England The Protestant Ambassadors to the Emperor at Spire The Emperor's Answer to the Protestant Ambassadors The Electors of Cologne and Saxony mediate for the Duke of Cleve but in vain The Heildesheimers accused to the Emperor The Emperor's threatening Letter to those of Heildesheim His Letter to the Senate of Cologne The Pope's Letter to them also The Turkish Fleet in Provence The Castle of Nizza Besieged The Turks Invade Hungary Calvin's Antidote and Book of Relicks The Emperor comes to Bonne where Bucer and Hedie preached The Emperors Expedition against Cleve and his Victory A vain report of the Emperor's being drowned The Emperor takes Liege and Ruremund by Surrender The Duke of Cleve upon Submission is Reconciled to the Emperor The Conditions of his Peace The French King takes Luxenburg again Landrecy Besieged The Emperors Envoy to the City of Metz. Divisions in Scotland The Queen of Scots betroth'd to Prince Edward of England The Danes make War against the Imperialists The Duke of Cleve renounces his League with France and demands his Wife The French Flight at Landrecy The Protestants assemble at Franckfort The Elector of Saxony and Lantgrave write to the Emperor His Answer to them 1544. Extraordinary Eclipses of the Sun Moon Alexander Farnese sent Legate to the Emperor The Diet at Spire very full The Emperor's Speech at the opening of it The Protestants Plea about the Affair of Brunswick Brunswick's Accusation of the Protestants A French Ambassy to the Diet of Spire The French Herald ill received at Spire The Letter of some Princes to the Pope The Pope's Answer Ludovick Elector Palatine dies his Brother Frederick succeeds The Letter of the States of the Empire to the Swisse The Protestants Accuse the Duke of Brunswick A pleasant Story of the Duke of Brunswick and his Miss Eve Trottine The French Victory at Carignan The Proceedings of the Duke of Saxony and the Confederates with the Duke of Brunswick The Duke of Savoy's Accusation of the French King. The Switzers Answer to the Letter of the States of the Empire An English Expedition against Scotland and Edinborough taken Wolfgang made Master of Prussia The complaint and desire of the Ambassadors of Hungary The Speech of the French Ambassadors that was not heard in the Diet. An Accommodation betwixt the Emperor Ferdinand and the Duke of Saxony Ferdinand is acknowledged for King of the Romans Eleanor the Daughter of King Ferdinand betrothed to the Duke of Saxony's Son. The King of Denmark's Accommodation with the Emperor The Decree of the States for a Subsidy against the French and other Matters The Decree of Spire displeases the Catholicks The Cities and two Princes refused to give Aid against the French. The Dutchy of Brunswick Sequestrated into the Emperor's Hands The Emperors Expedition into France Count Bichling was condemned to die but saved by
Maximilian Barbarossa's Incursions Anthony Duke of Lorrain dying his Son Francis succeeds to him The English make an Expedition into France Boloigne besieged Sandizier taken upon Surrender Renate Prince of Orange killed The Consternation of the Parisians Boloigne taken by the English The Peace betwixt the Emperor and French King at Soissons and the Conditions of it The Pope's Letters to the Emperour written at the instigation and upon the confidence of the French King. The Bishop of Winchester's Book against Bucer Cardinals created to gratifie Princes The Council is again called The Controversie about the Lords Supper is renewed The Plea of the Clergy of Cologne with the Archbish The Clergy of Cologne appeal to the Pope and Emperour George of Brunswick President The writing of the Archb against the Conspiracy of his Clergy The Clergy of Cologne subscribe the Appeal The Emperour's Embassie to the King of England The Netherlanders loveâ— of the Reformed Religion Peter Bruley burnt The Intercession of Strasbourg and the Protestants for Bruley The Emperour 's severe Edicts against the Lutherans Bruiey's Answer to the Monks Interrogatories Of the Body and Bloud of Christ Of the Mass Of the Adoration of the Bread. Of Purgatory Of Masses and Prayers for the Dead How the Saints are truly worshipp'd Of Free-will Of Faith. Of Traditions that enslave Minds Of Images Of Baptism Of Vows Of Confession Of the Virginity of the Blessed Mary The Assembly of the Divines of Paris at Melun Luther's Positions contrary to those of the Divines of Louvaine An Imperial Diet at Wormes The first Session The Protestants make answer to Ferdinand The deliberation of the Popish States King Ferdinand and the Emperor's Deputies Answer to the Protestants The Protestants Petition Grignian the the French Embassador to the States The Persecution of the Waldenses at Merindole A cruel Sentence of the Parliament of Aix against the Waldenses Meinier President of the Parliament of Aix Philip Cortine Forces raised by Meinier against the Waldenses A Soldier gives the Fugitives forewarning Merindole is burnt Cabriere surprised by craft Is demolished A honourable piece of Cruelty of Meinier The number of the slain Coste is taken and the Inhabitants most barbarously used The Intercession of the Swizers for the Merindâ—lanes The King's Answer to the Swiss The Heads of the Waldensian Doctrine The Spaniards marched through Germany into Austria The Death of Louis Duke of Bavaria The Emperour and Cardinal Farnese come to Wormes The Emperour's Embassie to the King of Poland The King of Poland's Answer to the Emperour The Pope very greedy of Lutheran blood A bloody Sermon of a Franciscan Fryer Cardinal Farnese parts from Wormes for Rome Luther's Book against the Papacy of Rome A Picture set before the Book Luther's Theses of the three Hierarchies The Emperour's Treaty with the Protestants The Plea of Grignian the French Embassadour Francis Duke of Lorrain dies King Ferdinand's Daughter dies The Birth of Charles the Son of Philip King of Spain The Emperour's Daughter-in-law dies Piscara comes to Wormes The Duke of Brunswick chouses the French King of Money The Emperour makes a Truce with the Turk The Senate of Metz inquire after Protestants The Archbishop of Cologne is cited by the Emperour and Pope The Emperour takes the Clergy and Colledge of Cologne into his protection The Archbishop of Cologne is cited The Pope's prejudice against the Archbishop An Assembly and Conference appointed at Ratisbonne Conferours are appointed for the pacification of Religion The Papists refuse the Conference The Dutchy of Brunswick adjudged to the Emperour The stubbornness of the Duke of Brunswick The Elector of Cologne sends a Proctor to the Emperour War betwixt the French and English at Bologne The Death of the Duke of Orleans The Duke of Brunswick takes the field He takes Stembruck The Landgrave's Expedition against the Duke of Brunswick Maurice interceeds for Peace The Conditions of Peace proposed A Truce granted Duke Henry breaks the Truce A Fight betwixt Brunswick and the Landgrave The Duke of Brunswick surrenders himself with his Son to the Landgrave The Death of Albert of Mentz Maurice purges himself of the suspicion of betrying Brunswick Luther's Book against the setting the Duke of Brunswick at liberty William of Furstenberg is set at liberty The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave's Letters to the Emperour about the taking of the D. of Branswick The Landgrave's Letter to the Emperour The Emperour's Answer to the Landgrave by an Embassadour The Landgrave's Answer A Treaty of Peace betwixt the Kings of France and England 1546. The King of England forewarns the Protestants of their danger A Meeting of the Protestants at Franckfurt The Elector Palatine appoints Preachers of the Gospel A Meeting of the Electors of the Rhine for the Archbishop of Cologne A Report of a War against the Protestants The Landgrave's Letter to Granvell Granvell answers the Landgrave A Meeting of some Princes at Franckfurt Sebastian Scherteline Deputies from the Protestants are sent to the Emperour and Clergy of Cologne The Protestants accused of a Conspiracy The Conference of Naves and Renard Count of Solmes The Landgrave's Letters to Naves The Conference of learned Men at Ratisbonne Presidents Colloqutors and Witnesses of the Conference The Conference begins The Heads of Doctrine to be chiefly handled The Conditions of the Conference Malvenda treats of the Point of Justification Bucer answers Malvenda as to the Article of Justification Billick the Carmelite Malvenda answers Bucer The Emperour's Letter to the Doctors Pflugg admitted amongst the Presidents The Conference is broken up The Protestant Embassadours with the Emperour in favour of the Elector of Cologne The Emperour's Answer to them The Pope's Legates sent to Trent Mendoza's Speech to the Fathers in Name of the Emperour The Cardinals answer Mendoza Preaching Monks acted the first part in the Council A Bull of Indulgences The commencement of the Council The first Session The Decree of the first Session The second Session of the Council of Trent Luther chosen Umpire betwixt the Counts of Mansfield Whether we shall know one another in the life to come Luther's Prayer before his death Luther's death His dead Body is carried to Wittemberg The Birth and Life of Luther He was sent to Rome Luther's Eloquence in the German Language His Constancy and Courage The Authors of the Decree of Ausbourg John Diazi went to the Conference at Ratisbonne John Diazi's Conference with Malvenda Malvenda's Letter to the Emperour's Confessour Diazi goes to Newbourg Alfonso Diazi's Brother comes into Germany The Cain-like and traitorous Mind of Alfonso John Diazi is killed by his Brother's means What was done with the Ruffians at Inspruck The Emperour comes to Spire on his Journey to Ratisbonne He visits the D. of Deuxpont's Lady Daughter to the Landgrave The Landgrave comes to the Emperour The Landgrave's Speech to the Emperour The Emperour's Answer to the Landgrave The Landgrave's words to the Emperour Monks the disturbers of the Peace The Emperour's Answer to the
Landgrave The Landgrave again speaks to the Emperour The ignorance of the Archbishop of Cologne observed by the Emperour The Emperour to the Landgrave The Conferences of some Princes Granvell speaks The Landgrave answers Granvell's words Divines are awkward and obstinate The Landgrave's words The Opinion of Paphnutius about the Lord's Supper and marriage of Priests Granvell speaks after the Landgrave The Landgrav's Answer The Elector Palatine's Opinion in this Conference Granvell's Answer The Landgrav's Speech The Landgrave Arbitrator betwixt the Dukes of Saxony The Emperour advises the Landgrave to come to the Diet. The Emperour thanks the Landgrave The Landgrave's Answer to the Emperour The Emperour to the Landgrave The Landgrave to the Emperour The Emperour to the Landgrave The Landgrave's Answer Spede's soppishness The Landgrave takes leave of the Emperour An Assembly of the Protestant Deputies at Wormes They of Ravensbourg enter into the Protestant League The third Session of the Council of Trent and the Acts of it The Speech of Don Francisco de Toledo in the Council The Pope's Letters to the Bishops of Switzerland The Switzers highly commended The Archbishop of Cologne excommunicated by the Pope The Emperour 's coming to Ratisbonne Diazi's murder unrevenged The Emperour's Speech at Ratisbonne Truce with the Turk by the mediation of the French King. A Division amongst the Electors The Protestants opinion of the Council of Trent A constant report of a War against the Protestants The Cardinal of Trent is sent to Rome to sollicit the promised assistance The Preparations of War. Albert and John of Brandenbourg take charge under the Emperour The Landgrave's Segacity The Protestants ask the Emperour the warlike preparations The Emperour answers the Protestants The Emperour's Letter to the Protestant Cities The Emperour writes to the Duke of Wirtemberg Granvell and Naves discourse the Deputies of the Protestants Cities A Decree of the Council of Trent The Office of Pastors Decrees concerning Original Sin. The Decree of Sixtus IV. concerning the Virgin Mary The Speech of the French Embassador He means the King of England The Demands of the French King. The Answer of those of Strasbourg to the Emperour Duke Maurice had a private Conference with the Emperour The Protestant Deputies return home The Emperour's Embassie to the Suizers The Duke of Wirtemberg and the Towns of Vpper Germany rise in Arms. The first of the Protestant Commanders Balthazar Gutling's Speech to the Soldiers A Meeting of the Protestant Deputies at Vlme Their Letters to the Venetians the Nobility of Germany the Grisons and those of Tyrol The Emperour's League with the Pope against the Reformed The Church Revenues in Spain given for maintaining a War against the Lutherans Peace betwixt France and England Henry the Dauphin of France has a Daughter The Cardinal of Scotland killed The Pope's Letter to the Suizers The Embassadours of the Protestants to the Suizzers Wolffembottel is demolished The Prince Palatine enquires after the cause of the War. The Elector Palatine desires to reconcile the Protestants to the Emperour Saxony and the Landgrave arm The Protestants Letters to the Emperour The Authors of the War against the Protestants The Emperour's Letter to the Archbishop of Cologne The Protestants send Ambassadors to the Kings of England and France Saxony and Landgrave publish a Declaration concerning the War. The Bishop of Ausbourg a great Incendiary The Protestants Letters to the Marquess of Brandenbourg Brandenbourgs Answer A Manifesto against Brandenbourg The Forces of the Landgrave The Landgrave sends his Son to Strasbourg The Duke of Brunswick offers to betray the Papists Councels against the Protestants The first Exploit of the Protestants Fiessen taken Erenberg is taken by Scherteline Francis Castlealto Dilinghen and Donawert taken by the Protestants These of Ausbourg furnish the Emperour with Money The Emperour's Forces at Ratisbonne The Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave Outlawed by the Emperour The Marriages of Bavaria and Cleves amidst the noise of War. The Session of the Council is put off The number of the Fathers of the Council of Trent Titular Archbishops Olaus Magnus of Vpsale and Venant a Scot. The King of Sweden reforms Religion The Archbishop reduced to poverty dies Duke Maurice his Progress to King Ferdinand The Emperour's Letters to Duke Maurice and to his Brother Augustus wherein he desires them to take possession of the Inheritances of the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave and so prevent others The Protestants Letters to the Duke of Bavaria A great Misfortune occasioned by Lightning at Mechelin The Suitzers Answer to the Protestants The Protestants Demand of the Suitzers The Protestants declare War against the Emperour The Emperour refuses to receive the Protestants Letters The Emperour's Answer to the Protestants Messenger A Dispute about what Title should be given to the Emperour The Protestants march to Ratisbonne The Pope's Forces come to the Emperour The Officers of the Pope's Army The Horse of the Duke of Florence and Ferrara A bloody Saying of Farnese The Commanders of the Emperour's Army German Princes in the Emperour's Camp. The Princes in the Protestants Camp. The Emperour marches to Ratisbonne A Skirmish betwixt the Landgrave's Men and the Spanish Garrison The Spaniards break into the Protestants Camp. The Count of Buren marches with his Forces to joyn the Emperour The Landgrave's bold and good Advice The oversight of the Protestants in not laying hold on their oppertunity was the beginning of their miscarriage in the War. The Emperour 's great Courage The Answer of the Suitzers to the Emperour The Pope and Emperour pretended not the same Cause for the War of Germany The Emperour's Letter to the Protestant Suitzers The Protestant Cantons Answer to the Emperour The Protestants Address to the Bohemians The Protestants Declaration concerning Incendiaries and Poysoners sent out by the Pope The Protestants Answer to the Instrument of Proscription The Emperour's Expression about the subduing of Germany * Who had refused the Empire when it was offered unto him The Protestants raise their Camp. The Count of Buren joyns the Emperor The French King refused to send the Protestants Assistance The Protestants grosly deceived by Stroza an Italian The Protestants write to the Reformed Suitzers The Suitzers Answer The Catholick and Protestant Camps near one another The River Egra Albert of Brunswick dies of his wounds Donawert surrendered to the Emperor The Duke of Alva insults over the Landgrave A change of affairs in Saxony Duke Maurice consults against the Protestants The Letters of Duke Maurice's Friends to the Protestants Duke Maurice writes to the Landgrave to the same purpose The Embassie of John William of Saxony to Duke Maurice Scherteline leaves the Protestant Camp. The Emperor Master of the Danube The Protestants lose an opportunity of taking the Emperour A Stratagem A Skirmish betwixt the Landgrave and Prince of Sulmona Another Stratagem used by the Emperor The Plague in the Emperors Camp. Farnese with some Troops returns home The Landgrave's Answer to the Mauricians The Landgrave's
Letter to Duke Maurice's Son-in-Law The Letter of the Council of War to Duke Maurice The Protestants Letters from the Camp to some Imperial Cities and Princes The Bohemians invade Saxony unwillingly Hussars Hungarian Horse Ferdinand's General denounceth War against the Saxons A Convention of the Confederate Deputies at Vlm. The Duke of Saxony's Demands from the Protestants The Answer of the Deputies Duke Maurice his Letters to the Elector His Letters also to the same purpose to the Elector's Son. An Irruption into the Province of the Elector of Saxony The Bohemians depart The Hungarians joyn Duke Maurice Most of the Towns of Saxony fall into the hands of Duke Maurice The Emperour removes his Camp. Duke Maurice ill spoken of Pasquils against Duke Maurice Duke Maurice justifies himself by a publick Manifesto The Persecution of Meaux in France William Briâ—sonet Fourteen burnt The Archbishop of Cologne appeals to a Council An Embassie into France and England The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave in great danger Bophinghen Nordlingen Oetinghen and Dinkespiel surrender to the Emperour The Duke of Saxony raises Money of the Papists The Landgrave's Letter to Duke Maurice his Son-in-law The Emperour's Letter to the Duke of Wirtemberg The Emperour commands the Duke of Wirtemberg to deliver up himself and all his into his hands And his Subjects not to obey him Wirtemberg's supplicatory Letters to the Emperour Neopolitan Cuirossiers come to the Emperour Frederick Elector Palatine is reconciled to the Emperour Paulus Fagius called to Heidleberg The City of Vlm reconciled to the Emperour The Landgrave's Country harassed by the Imperialists Buren takes Darmstadt Frankfurt surrenders to Buren His free Jest that he put upon them The cause of the surrender Frankfurt is reconciled to the Emperour and is fined The Elector of Saxony's Letter to the States of Duke Maurice The King of Denmark sent no aid to the Protestants The Duke of Alva invades the Dutchy of Wirtemberg 1547. The Conditions upon which the Duke of Wirtemberg is reconciled to the Emperor The Emperor's Answer to the Embassadors of Wirtemberg The Protestant Cities of Memmingen Bibrach Ravensburg Kempen and Isne are reconciled to the Emperor Memmingen fined A Sedition in Genoa against the Family of Doria. Joannin Doria killed A Decree of the Council of Trent concerning Justification The Siege of Leipsick The Duke of Saxony recovers his own and takes Duke Maurice's Towns. The Bohemians refuse to take Arms against the Duke of Saxony King Ferdinand's Answer to the Bohemians Demands Marquess Albert of Brandenburg is sent with assistance to Duke Maurice The Emperour goes to Vlm. Lindaw and Esling are received into his Favour Adolph Count Schavenburg is put in the place of Herman Archbishop of Cologne The Emperour's Embassadors perswade the States to relinquish Herman and accept of Schavenburg for their Archbishop The Duke of Cleve mediates and gets Herman to divest himself of his Bishoprick Herman resigns the Bishoprick of Cologne Frederick Herman's Brother turned out of the Provostship of Bonne which was given to Gropper The Death of Henry King of England to whom his Son Prince Edward succeeds Severity against Norfolk Henry detested the Pope not his Doctrine Henry left Guardians to his Son. Thomas Cranmer Primate of England They of Ausbourg capitulate with the Emperour Scheterline odious to the Emperour The Elector of Brandenburg Interposes for Peace and with the Landgrave too The Emperour raises new Forces against Saxony Joyce Grunning compels Count Deckelburg the town of Minden and others to obey and take Orders from him Saxony's Letters to those of Strasbourg Mendoza the French Embassador to Strasbourg The City of Strasbourg send an Embassie to the Emperour Naves dies George Selden succeeds John Marquard Henry Hasen King Ferdinand's Demands to the Bohemians The Nobility and Citizens of Prague desire a Convention of States to be called The League of the Bohemians Rochliez kept out by Marquess Albert. The Duke of Saxony takes Rochiltz by Storm and carries off the Enemies Ordnance Marquess Albert made Prisoner Wolf Theodorick dies of his Wounds The Duke of Wirtemberg makes his Submission to the Emperor The Seventh Session of the Council of Trent concerning the Sacraments And also concerning Ecclesiastical Benefices King Ferdinand's Letters to the Bohemians Strasburg's Pacification with the Emperour Their Fine The Conditions proposed to the Landgrave The Landgrave rejects them The Emperour's Letters to the States of Duke Maurice As also to those of Prague Caspar Pflug Head of the Bohemian Confederates The Bohemians Letters to King Ferdinand and Duke Maurice Ferdinand answers the Bohemians Saxony's Embassador to the Bohemians The Bohemians Letter to the Moravians Francis the French King dies to whom Henry succeeds A change of Affairs in the French Court. Francis the Mecenas of Scholars His Learning A famous Library His liberality towards the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave The death of the Kings of England and France advantageous to the Emperour The overthrow of an Imperial Army Grunning dies Bremen besieged The Bohemians Letter to King Ferdinand The Emperors Letter to the States of Bohemia The Bohemians prepare for War against King Ferdinand's Forces King Ferdinand writes to his Bohemians Saxony takes some Towns from Duke Maurice Some of the Fathers of the Council of Trent go to Bohemia The Count of Buren holds Francfurt Two men put to death at Franckfurt The Landgrave's Justification The Bohemians friends to the Duke of Saxony King Ferdinand's Commissioners to the Convention of the Bohemians Ferdinand's Army The Emperor's Expedition against the Duke of Saxony The Emperours celerity in overtaking the Saxons The Elector of Saxony made Prisoner Duke Ernest of Brunswick taken A Prodigy of the Sun. King Ferdinand's Commissioners to the Bohemians and their Deputies to him The Duke of Saxony condemned to death by the Emperour The great fortitude of Saxony Brandenburg's intercession for Saxony The Conditions proposed by the Emperour to Saxony Albert of Brandenburg and Ernest of Brunswick set at liberty Who were excluded out of the Peace A Diet of the Empire at Ulm. King Ferdinand's Letter to the Bohemians The Duke of Saxony discharges the Soldiers in Wittemberg of their Military Oath and then they surrender the Place to the Emperour The Dutchess of Saxony makes intercession to the Emperour for her Husband The Funeral of King Francis Duke Erick of Brunswick defeated The Intercession of Duke Maurice and the Elector of Brandenburg for the Landgrave Christopher Eblben Duke Maurice's Letter to the Landgrave The Articles of Peace The Landgrave accepts the Conditions Wittemberg falls to Duke Maurice Lazarus Schuendi razes Gothen King Ferdinand's Letter to the Bohemians What was done at the Diet of Vlm. This Diet is adjourned to Ausbourg The Landgrave comes to the Emperour at Hall. A Draught of the Articles of Peace presented to the Landgrave different from that which he had received The Landgrave signes the Articles of Peace The Landgrave begs Pardon of the Emperour The Emperour's Answer to the Landgrave by the
Duke of Aumales Marraige Louis d' Avilaâ— History of the German War. Islebius brags of the Interim The Bishop of Auranches writes against the Interim So does Romey the Dominican The constancy of the Sons of the Duke of Saxony The Duke of Saxony avows to the Emperour his rejecting of the Interim The Deputies of Constance with the Emperour Their humble Letters to him The Bishop of Constance dies of an Apoplexy which he had imprecated unto his People Maximilian's War against the Switzers The Emperour changeth the Senate of Ausburg The Companies are abolished The Emperour gives sentence in favour of Nassaw against the Landgrave The Spaniards march privately to Constance Alfonsus Vives was killed and the Spaniards draw off without success A Custom of the Switzets The Letter of the Strasburgers to the Emperour Their Judgment of the Interim The Emperours answer to those of Strasburg The people of Constance proscribed They pray some Princes and the Suitzers to intercede with the Emperour for them The Emperous answer to the intercessors Those of Lindaw receive the Interim The Strasburgers consult about the Interim Many of them renounce their freedoms in the City and depart The Senate of Vlm changed The constancy of four Divines of Vlm The Ministers of Vlm put into Chains The Emperour comes to Spire The Popes Legats sent to Germany The Duke of Saxony and Landgrave carried Prisoners into the Low Countries The Deputies of Strasburg with the Emperour The Bishops of Strasburg's Letter to the Clergy about the observation of the Decree Their Letter to the Emperour The Deputies of Strasburg are dismissed and ordered to agree with their Bishop The Emperour keeps the Duke of Saxony with him The Landgrave he sends to Oudenard The Reformation of the Chamber The Duke of Brunswick brings an Action against the Protestants and so do some others The people of Constance give themselves up to the house of Austria King Ferdinand upon Conditions takes them into his protection And then lays his Commands upon them The Marriage of Duke Augustus of Saxony A Sedition at Bourdeaux The Bourdeaux-men receive the Constable and his Soldiers The Punishments inflicted by the Constable at Bourdeaux The Bells are taken from them and their Charters burnt The dead Body of the King's Lieutenant being by the Citizens scraped out of the ground with their Nails is splendidly buried The horrible History of Francis Spira John Caso Archbishop of Benevento the Pope's Legate at Venice Spira falls sick and also into despair admitting of no comfort He dyes despairing of Salvation Vergerio The strange Conversion of Vergerio to the reformed Religion Vergerio writes a Book against the Apostates of Germany John Baptista Vergerio Bishop of Pola The Inquisitors against Vergerio An Invective against Vergerio The Inquisition of Pola and Justinopolis Grisonio's exhortation against the Lutherans Vergerio goes to Trent to justifie himself in Council But is deny'd a place in it Vergerio preached the Gospel against the Grisons from thence was called to Tubingen Vergerio's Brother dies not without suspition of Poyson The Book of an Archbishop on the praise of Sodomy Marriages contracted by the Ministers of the Church of Cologne are annulled and declared to be incestuous The Custom of the Province of Treves The Interim is in vain pressed upon the Landgrave's subjects Siâ—onius consecrates a new the Churches of Franckfurt The Queen of Scots carried over into France Philip the Emperour's Son passes through Italy to the Low Countries Philip is magnificently received at Genova 1549. As also at Milan The Count of Buren dies A Convention of States in Saxony A Form of Religion is drawn up for Saxony The Emperous Son comes to Germany The Duke of Arescot is sent to meet him Duke Maurice's intercession for the Landgrave his Father-in-Law Troubles in Africa Upon what occasion the Cardinal of Lorrain was made Bishop of Metz. The City of Strasburg's Letter to the Emperour The People of Magdenburg exposed as a prey because of Religion The Preachers of Vlm freed out of Prison Tumults in Engâ—and The Admiral of England beheaded The Bishop of Strasburg enjoyns the Clergy to obey the Emperours Edict The diligence of Archbishop Cranmer in Promoting Piety Bucer and Fagius go over Sea to England The Emperours Son makes his entry into Brussels Intercession made for the Landgrave but in vain The Bishop of Strasburg says Mass The Plea of the Professors of Strasburg to the Bishop The Answer of the Bishops Agents to the Professors of Strasburg The intercession of the Senate of Strasburg for their Professors Christopher Welsinger a Civilian The Duke of Deux-ponts is again urged to approve the Decree His Letter to the Emperour The Ingenuous Confession of the Duke of Deux-ponts The refutation of the Interim by those of Lower Saxony The beginning of the divisions in the Churches of Saxony The Hamburghers Letter to Melaâ—chton about indifferent matters Melanchton's Answer The Electoral Archbishops held Provincial Synods The Heads of their Decrees Of Consecrations and Exorcisms The manifold use of Holy Water Salt in Baptism The Churching of Women 1589. The Ceremony of the Dedication of a Church The Consecration of Bells The way of Consecrating Altars The making of Oyl and the Chrism The Popish Ceremonies brought into contempt through the preaching of Luther A Papal Decree concerning the use of Holy Water The Pope's Legates to the Emperour The Pope's Indulgence The Power of the Bishops delegated Of Monks fallen into Heresie Of the Communion in both kinds Of the Profits of Church Lands The Subdelegation of the Bishops Delegate The Emperour sends the Pope's Indult to the Bishops of Germany The Archbishop of Mentz sends the Pope's Indult to the Landgravians A godly Answer of the Preachers A Dispute at Oxford in England about the Lord's Supper The Coronation of the Queen of France The King and Queen of France make their entry into Paris A Persecution in France Solemn Processions and Prayers at Paris Luther and other Hereticks to be rooted out of France Monsieur Vervine beheaded A League betwixt the Switzers and French. Duke Maurice's Letters to his Subjects The Landgraves Wife dies An Insurrection in England The French King recovers some Places from England The Duke of Somerset committed to Prison The Emperour makes the Low-Countries do Homage to his Son Prince Philip. The Senate of Strasburg agree with their Bishop The danger of the Republick of Magdeburg by reason of the Emperours Proscription Their Apologetick Declaration Two Reasons why they cannot obtain Peace Gordius the Martyr The Marriage of Francis of Mantua The death of Paul III. A Book against Paul III. The Murders of Paul III. Paul's Sister being a Whore makes him a Cardinal He murders another Sister His Lusts The Funeral Charges of Paul III. A description of the Conclave of Rome 54 Cardinals in the time of Paul III. The way of chusing the Pope How many Voices every Cardinal may give Three Factions of Cardinals The Conclave full of chinks Pool upon
of Cain In the Primitive times godly Bishops have often refus'd to concern themselves in Councils when they saw they were not call'd for the Defence of Truth but either to establish false Doctrin or to countenance some Persons in their Ambition Thus when Constantine the Emperor summon'd a Council to Antioch Maximus Bishop of Jerusalem though he was not very far distant from the place would not come thither because he understood the Emperor's Inclinations and what the Arian Bishops were contriving So Athanasius though he came to the Council at Tyre yet he stayed not long there because he perceiv'd the Principal Persons of the Council took upon them to be Complainants and Judges too and was also well assur'd that there were Witnesses suborned against him In like manner at Sirmium in Hungary there was formerly conven'd a very numerous Council against Photinus for the Debate was of great Consequence and notwithstanding the Emperor commanded the Bishops to repair thither yet those of the Western-Church did not obey him when they understood the Arian-Faction was encreas'd for they suspected some false Doctrin would be decreed there At this time Hosius a Person of great Reputation was Bishop of Corduba whom the Emperor by the advice of the Arians commanded to go out of Spain to the Council who when he came there he consented to that ensnaring Creed at Sirmium which was afterwards the occasion of horrible Disorders in the Church and Hilary who was not present at this Assembly reproves Hosius for his compliance Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem would never assist at their Meetings who denied Christ to be of the same substance with the Father and is said to be the first Man who appeal'd in writing from the Authority of their Councils There was a Council begun at Millain and the Bishops were call'd thither by the Emperor's order But when Paulinus Bishop of Triers and some few others perceived that Auxentius Bishop of Millain and his Party were projecting things which were not fair They went off and so occasioned the breaking up of the Council Thus those great Men declined going to all suspected Synods that they might not be involved in their guilt And since the Pope giveth pretty plain intimations that this Council is design'd to establish his Power and Greatness we desire all People that they would not blame our refusal of it Moreover we have great reason to dislike the place of the Council for it 's very fit for Mischief and in all respects such as if it was contrived to hinder the freedom of Debates To which we may add that the Calumnies of our Adversaries have given Strangers a very ill opinion of us as if all Probity and Religion was banish'd our Country Now to have Mens minds prepossess'd with such a notion as this may be exceeding dangerous for us Therefore if it was only upon this account it was very proper to have the Council conven'd in Germany that those of foreign Nations might see the customs and regularity of our Churches and Towns and so disengage themselves from their prejudice against the true Doctrin The importance of the Affair likewise obligeth most of us to be in Person at the Council but to go out of our own Country in such numbers would be a great inconvenience to us And since it was decreed in a Diet of the Empire upon such weighty considerations that a Council should be held in Germany we see no reason to depart from what was then resolv'd upon And in regard the welfare of all Christendom is concern'd in this business we entreat all Kings and Princes not to give any credit to our Adversaries but rather use their Endeavours that the true knowledge of God may be recover'd which is the most glorious Action they can possily engage in As for the Pope it 's his Design to run them upon Injustice and Cruelty but they are oblig'd to abhor such Practices above all things For they are places on purpose on that elevated Station that they might promote the Honour of God with greater advantage shew a good Example to their Inferiors and rescue innocent Persons from Injury and Oppression And if ever a lawful Council happeneth to be call'd we will give such a satisfactory account of our Proceedings there as shall be sufficient to convince all People that we have aim'd at and attempted nothing but what was for the real advantage of Christendom In this Convention there was the Elector of Saxony Ernest and Francis his Brother Dukes of Lâ—â—enburgh Vlrick Duke of Wirtemburgh the Lantgrave Philip Duke of Pomern three Earls of Anhalt and Albert Count Mansfield there were also the Agents of a great many Cities who were sent thither with very large Commissions their Principals being pre-acquainted with the subject of the Debate Before they broke up their Assembly which was done upon the 6th of March they wrote to the French King where in the first place they excuse themselves for not giving his Embassador satisfaction at the last Convention and also gave him their Reasons why they omitted sending an Embassy to him now Then they desired him to continue them his Friendship and since they had made all imaginable Overtures for the composing the Differences in Religion though they had been unsuccessful in thier Endeavours yet they hoped he would oblige them with his Favour for their good Intentions Lastly They acquaint him with their Resolutions concerning the Council and desire to know how his Majesty intends to act in this Affair Upon the 22th of May the King returns them an Answer in which he lets them understand that he was satisfi'd with their Reasons and maketh them large assurances of the constancy of his Friendship and sends them a Paper which he had publish'd to confute the Misrepresentations of their Adversaries And as to the Council he told them That he was still of the same mind of which he had always been that unless it was lawful in its Constitution and Method and coven'd in a place of Security he would never approve it neither did he question but that the King of Scotland his Son in law would be wholly influenced by him This Prince some few days before in the beginning of May return'd into Scotland with his Queen who died there about the middle of June following In the mean time the Pope prorogeth the Council till the first of November the occasion of which delay he charg'd upon the Duke of Mantua who insisted upon a Garrison to secure the Town and demanded a Supply of Monies for that purpose These Terms the Pope said were unexpected and surprizing to him and he was very much afraid lest the greatest part of the Bishops in compliance with his Bull were already arriv'd at Mantua and being denied admittance into the Town might be forc'd to return home This he was extreamly troubled at but should bear it with the more patience because it was not his fault but anothers Not long after the King
English drew almost all their Forces on this Side the Gate and some of the next Towers being much battered the Duke of Guise ordered fifteen Cannon suddenly to be planted against the Castle the Walls of which were not faced with Earth within this Battery was plaid with that Fury that the Noise of the Cannon was heard as far as Antwerp which is thirty three German Miles to the North A great Breach being made there Andelot was commanded to pass the River and lodge himself upon the other Side with one thousand two hundred Musqueteers after this they drew the Water out of the Town-Dike which was thought by the English the greatest defence they had and by pitched Hurdles they laid a Passage over the muddy Dikes and marshy Grounds for the Soldiers and secured the Foot from the Annoyance of the Small-shot by other Hurdles about half a foot thick which had Stakes fenced with Iron to strike into the Ground and Loop-holes to shoot through The Night after the Walls being now battered down the Duke of Guise ordered Grammont with three hundred Small-shot to play all Night into the Breach to hinder the English from making any Works within the Castle for their Defence Strozzi was ordered at the same time to lodge himself with the same number of Foot and one hundred Pioneers on the other Side near the Gate but was beaten off by the English Small-shot and forced to return to the Duke of Guise The next Morning the Duke of Guise having ordered the Breach at the Castle to be carefully viewed Grammont was ordered with three hundred Muskets to enter the place who was to be seconded by Strozzi with the same number these passed the Dike in Water up to the Navel and notwithstanding any resistance the English could make lodged themselves in the Castle driving those of the English that had not been slain into the Town The Castle being thus gained the Duke of Guise put a strong Garrison into it The English so soon as the Tide returned again which filled the Dikes stormed the Castle in hopes to regain that important Post and being beaten off they planted four Cannon against the Bridge and forced open the Castle-gate and then stormed it the second time but having lost two hundred of their best Men to no good purpose they then began to treat of a Surrender which at last was agreed The Governour and fifty others being to become Prisoners of War The Soldiery and Townsmen to be at liberty to pass into England or Flanders without any Injury as to their Lives or Liberties And all the Ammunition Cannon Housholdstuff Gold Silver Merchandise and Horse was to be left to the disposal of the Duke of Guise On these Conditions was Calais delivered up to the French the fourteenth of January 1557 58 when it had been two hundred and ten Years in the hands of the English The Place was no sooner yielded up but great numbers of Ships came over who understanding what had passed returned back King Philip had smelt the Design of the French upon this Place and had wrote to Queen Mary that he would put Succours into the Town but this was suspected by the English as a Design to get Calais into his own Hands and so his Prediction came to pass After Calais was taken they fell to consider Whether they should attack Guines which was in the Hands of the English and lay two French Leagues from Calais to the South or Graveling a Town of Flanders three Leagues to the N. E. But they resolved to attempt Guines which was nearer and more necessary for the securing the Possession of Calais the Lord Gray was Governour of it who had a good Garrison and had received some Succours from King Philip yet at the first Attack he left the Town and fled into the Castle but whilst the French were plundering the Town returned again and drove them out and firing the Town returned into the Castle again which in a short time after he surrendred when he had eight hundred English Spanish and Flemmings to have continued the Defence of it but the Hearts of the English were down for Gray was reputed a good Soldier There was now nothing left to the English but a small Place call'd the Comte de Oye which had a Castle not strong but almost unaccessible as being surrounded with unpassable Marshes and which had no Passage but over a Timber-Bridge This Place lies almost two Leagues from Calais towards Graveling the Garrison of which never staid for a Summons but hearing of the loss of Guines fled and left the Place open and unguarded and Sipetra took possession of it without any further trouble for the French. Burnet calls this Castle Hammes and Thuanus Oye but the Castles of Hammes lay directly between Guines and Calais One Sir Edward Grimstone was then Comptroler of Calais and a Privy Counsellor and he had often given Advertisement of the ill condition of the Garrison but the Treasury was low the People discontented and the Thoughts of the Queen and her Council more set upon extirpating Heresie as they called it than upon preserving this important Post so it was lost and the Grief and Dishonour of this Misfortune sat so heavy upon the Spirits of the Queen that she never joyed after The next thing the French undertook was the taking of the Castle of Herbemont in the Forest of Ardenne belonging to the Count of Beilisteine which was very troublesome to the Inhabitants of Ivoy this enterprize succeeded well too and they took the Castle the sixteenth of February and after it several other small Places on the Frontiers were deserted by their Garrisions This Year a Fleet of one hundred and twenty Turkish Galleys loosed from Prevesa a Port of Epirus and passing by Brindisi took and plundred Reggio a City in the South of Italy after which landing in the Bay di Surrento they carried four thousand persons into Slavery among which was a great many Monks and Nuns The Grief and Shame of this was the greater because it was done in sight of Naples From thence it sailed to the Coast of Provence and having refreshed the Sailors it returned to Minorca and took the Town of Citadella with great difficulty and the loss of four hundred Men after which it returned in August into Turkey The French Fleet in the Mediterranean was able to do nothing for want of Money so the Fear was much greater than the Hurt The twenty fifth of May the Dauphine was married to Mary Queen of the Scots yet the Scotch Ambassadors refused to promise under their Hands and Seals to procure the Dauphine in the next Convention of their States to be received and owned as King of Scotland and thereupon four of them dying soon after it was suspected that they had been poisoned Yet in the next Convention the thing was granted and the Earl of Argile was appointed to bring the Marital Crown into France But in
Leith but this she said she could not do 'till she had consulted with the Nobility of Scotland and when the Ambassador replied They could not but approve of what they had made she replied They did but not all and when I come amongst them it will appear what mind they are of The Duke of Guise and the rest of the great Men of that Family attended her to Calais and the Marquess of Elboeuf and Francis Grand Prior of France went with her She took Ship the 14th of August and arrived at Leith in Scotland the 20th She was much concerned for fear Queen Elizabeth might intercept her in her way home and therefore sent again for the English Ambassador but when he still insisted to have the Treaty of Leith ratisied she delayed it Her Uncle the Cardinal of Lorrain advised her to leave her Jewels and Treasures in France 'till she were safe in Scotland but she said It was folly to be more concerned for her Jewels than for her Person which she must hazard The truth is her Fear was well grounded for Queen Elizabeth sent a Fleet to way-lay her but the two Navies passed by one another in a dark foggy day unperceived and she safely arrived at Leith the 21th of August The beginning of her Government was very gracious and she condescended to grant That no Change or Alteration should be made in the present State of Religion only she said she would use her own Religion apart and have a Mass in private which was and by many was thought very reasonable she having been Educated in the Roman Church and being a Sovereign Princess Yet the Preachers in their Sermons publickly condemned that Toleration of their Queen as unlawful and the Earl of Arran being exasperated by his Imprisonment on the account of Religion in France by the Order of the Guises from whence he made his Escape replied That he did neither agree to Publick nor Private Mass which highly displeased the Queen And Archimbald Douglas Provost of Edinburg put out an Order commanding all Papists to be gone for which the Queen committed him to the Castle of Edinburg And one of the common sort of Men broke the Tapers in the Court which were prepared for her Chapel and a Tumult had ensued to the Ruine of the other Preparatives for her Chapel if some wiser Men had not interposed amongst whom the Lord James was one of the greatest and forwardest to suppress this insolent Disorder On the other side the Marquess of Elboeuf was much offended to see the Protestant Religion exercised openly in Scotland and the Earl of Huntley a vain Man proffer'd the Queen his Service to reduce all the North Parts of Scotland to the Popish Religion which was wisely rejected In the middle of September the Duke of Aumarl and the rest of the French which had come home with the Queen went back to France but the Marquess of Elboeuf who stayed with her all the Winter She sent William Lord Maitland to Queen Elizabeth with Letters full of kind and friendly Expressions and desiring the like Returns from her And amongst other things that she would declare her the lawful Heir to the Crown of England in case she Queen Elizabeth should dye without Issue which Queen Elizabeth denied but said She would never wrong her nor her Cause if it be just in the least point and that she knew not any whom she would prefer before her or who if the Title should fall to be controverted might exclude her The Queen of Scots caused a new Provost of Edinburg to be Elected changed the Common Council and put out a Proclamation That all her good and faithful Subjects should repair to and remain within the Birgh at their pleasure for doing their lawful Business which was in opposition to the Provost's Order She kept her Masses too more publickly and with greater pomp of all which the Ministers complain'd in vain in their Sermons The Nobility had divided the Church Lands amongst them and had now another Game to persue and were striving who should be most in the Queen's Favour The Queen's Expences being soon found too great for the poor Revenues of the Crown of Scotland to maintain The Remainder of the Church Lands was divided into three parts one was assigned to the Queen one to the Ministers and the third was left to the Bishops and Parsons of the Romish Communion which they were forced to yield to to prevent the loss of all they now subsisting merely by the Queen's Favour The Earl of Huntley to be made Lord Chancellor turned Roman Catholick again which encouraged one Winyet a Priest to write a Book against the Reformation for which he was censured and forced to leave Scotland Not long after which she created the Lord James her Brother first Earl of Marr and then of Murray the Lord Ereskin claiming and at last obtaining the Earldom of Marr which much offended Huntley which had enjoyed both these Titles ever since the death of James the Fifth This made Huntley enter into many base and unworthy Designs to murder Murray which were all by one means or other discovered and at last ended in the Death of Huntley and the Executiou of John Gordon his eldest Son a hopeful young Gentleman in the Year following The beginning of the Year 1562 was very unquiet in France The King had called an Assembly of the Delegates of all the Parliaments of France in the end of the last year which was to meet at St. Germain the 17th of January of this year to consider of the means of appeasing these Broils and preserving the Peace of France The King opened this Assembly with a short Speech which was seconded by a larger made by the Chancellor who having given a short account of the several Edicts that had been made before in the business of Religion and shewn how they had all by one means or other been defeated He added That Laws were of no use if they were not Religiously observed But then said he if the Question is put Why are not the Laws executed Must not you that are the Judges bear the blame For if they excuse themselves and say That it was not in their power to execute them I will accept the Answer upon condition they will ingenuously confess That neither was it in the King's power And that this Affair of Religion by a secret Judgment of God for the Castisement of our Luxury Indevotion and Neglect of his Glory is so disposed that we may by the severity of the Punishment be brought to Repentance In the year 1518 when these Commotions first began there is no Man but knows how corrupt the Manners and how loose or rather profligate the Discipline of the Church was throughout the World For to omit the Court of Rome in which there was nothing right and sound we had here in France a young King brought up in Pleasures tho' he afterwards was
much improved but he was then very dissolute nor was Henry of England any better And after all the Judgments God has sent from Heaven upon us we have not repented or amended and therefore there is no wonder that this sad difference of Religion cannot be composed and the Peace of the Church restored No on the contrary it is now apparent that our Enemies are become so numerous that they are almost able to oppress us As to those who pretend that we have encreased them by our Connivance I can answer That during the minority of the King they are bolder and I would have them consider too that for our Sins God has set a Child over us There are some who would have the King arm one part of his Subjects against the other which I think is neither Christian nor Human. After very much to the same purpose he told them the Thing proposed by the King to their Consideration was Whether it was the best way for the King to Suppress the Meetings or to Tolerate them Thereupon followed a very great Debate between these Deputies of the several Parliaments of France but at last they came to a Resolution to remit something of the Severity of the Edict of July and to allow the Protestants the liberty of Publick Sermons and accordingly a new Edict was made which was called The Edict of January the principal Heads of which were these That the Protestants should restore the Ecclesiasticks to their Churches Houses Lands Tithes and other goods whatsoever which they had taken from them forthwith and suffer them peaceably to enjoy their Images Crosses and Statues without any molestation or endeavouring to destroy them or doing any other thing that may disturb the publick Peace upon pain of Death without any hope of Mercy That the Protestants should have no publick Meetings Sermons and Prayers or administer any Sacraments publickly or privately by Night or by Day within any City in any manner whatsoever Yet in the mean time till the Controversies of Religon shall be composed by a General Council or the King shall otherwise order it Those who shall go to or frequent their Sermons shall not be molested provided they be had without the Cities And the Magistrates were accordingly commanded not to disquiet but to protect and preserve them from all Injury That all Seditious Persons of what Religion soever they were should be severely punished and all should be bound to discover and deliver them up to Justice a thousand Crowns being imposed upon any person who should receive abet or conceal such Riotous Offender and the Offender to be whipp'd if not able to pay the Penalty That the said Meetings should be without Arms and that no person should Reproach another on the account of Religion or use any Factious Names That the Protestants Ministers should admit none into their Number till they had diligently examined their Lives Conversations and Doctrines That the Magistrates might freely go to their Meetings to see what was done or to apprehend any Criminal who should be treated according to their Dignity and obeyed That the Protestants should hold no Synods Conferences or Consistories but in the presence of a Magistrate That they should create no new Magistrates or make any Laws or Statutes And if they desire any thing by way of Discipline it should be referred to their Authority or if need be be confirmed by them There shall be no Levies of Men or Monies made by them nor any Leagues entered into for their private Defence And as to Alms they shall only take them of such as are willing to give The Civil Laws especially those concerning Holy Days and the Degrees of Consanguinity and Affinity in Marriages shall be observed That their Pastors shall give Security to the Magistrates for the Observing this Edict and promise That they will not preach any Doctrine contrary to the Nicence or Apostles Creeds or the Books of the Old or New Testament nor use any Reproaches against the Catholicks in their Sermons And the same is injoyned the Catholicks in relation to the Protestants No man shall publish any Libels to desame another or sell or cause them to be sold Lastly the Magistrates are hereby commanded to be very diligent in case any Sedition happens to search out the Offenders and punish them without any Appeal to be allowed to such Offenders A Debate being made concerning the Worship of Images these Propositions were published by the Queen by the Advice of the Bishops of Valence and Seez and Monsieur Bouthillier d' Espence and Picherel That seeing Errors are according to St. Augustin rather to be rooted out of the Mind of Men than out of Churches and other places the Bishops should take order with the Curates to have the People well Instructed and diligently Admonished concerning the right use of them that all Offence or Scandal might be prevented both by the Royal Authority and that of the Church and that if any opposed this he should be treated as a Violater of the Royal Edicts and of the publick Peace That all Figures of the Holy Trinity should be immediately removed out of all Churches and all other publick and private Places as being forbidden by the Holy Scriptures the Councils and Testimonies of the Fathers and only Dissembled or Tolerated by the Sloth of the Bishops and Pastors That the Picutres of all prophane Persons and others who were not to be found in the Authentick Martyrologies of the Church all lascivious and dishonest Pictures and those of Brutes shall be abolished That no Crowns Garlands or Vestments shall be put upon any Images nor Incense nor Candles burnt before them nor shall they be carried in Processions nor any Prayers or Oblations be made to them nor shall they be worshipped with bended Knees because all these things are parts of Worship That all Images but that of the Venerable Holy Cross shall be taken from the Altars and either placed on the Valves or Walls of the Churches so that from henceforth they may neither be saluted kissed prayed to or presented with Gifts That all Images which were wont to be carried on the Shoulders of Men in the Churches and Streets should according to the late Canon of Sens be for ever abolished Beza opposed the retention of the Cross as brought into use by Constantine the Great and one N. Mallard Dean of the Sorbonne in Paris tho' he confessed some ill things had crept into the Church yet he was of opinion that all this Worship of Images ought stoutly to be defended and retained and put out a Book to that purpose so the Thing fell This Order was made the 14th of February The same Month but some few days before it the King of Navar wrote a Letter to the Elector Palatine in which he testified his great desire to promote a Reformation and that he hoped to have found a way to reconcile Differences by the Conference of